Antenna systems for multi-radio communications

ABSTRACT

A wireless-access point includes a first radio to transmit RF signals in a first channel; a second radio to transmit, simultaneously to transmissions of the RF signals by the first radio, RF signals in a second, non-overlapping channel; and a plurality of planar antennas coupled with corresponding first and second radios to receive the RF signals. First and second planar antennas are coupled with the first radio to receive therefrom, in the first channel, a first RF signal and a second RF signal, respectively. The first planar antenna is arranged with its normal along a first direction. The second planar antenna is arranged with its normal along a second, different direction. A third planar antenna is coupled with the second radio to receive therefrom a third RF signal in the second channel, the third planar antenna being arranged with its normal along a third direction.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of and claims priority toU.S. application Ser. No. 16/619,229, filed on Dec. 4, 2019, which is aNational Stage application under 35 U.S.C. § 371 of InternationalApplication No. PCT/US2018/036156, having an International Filing Dateof Jun. 5, 2018, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Ser. No.62/515,524 filed Jun. 5, 2017. The disclosures of the prior applicationsare considered part of (and are incorporated by reference in) thedisclosure of this application.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This application discloses methods to construct an antenna system foruse in a multi-radio wireless network device (MR-WND), such as an accesspoint or base station. In particular, this application considers theantenna system for a MR-WND, comprising multiple multiple-inputmultiple-output (MIMO) and/or multi-user multiple-input multiple-output(MU-MIMO) capable radios, such that the multiple MIMO and/or MU-MIMOcapable radios can operate concurrently within a defined frequency bandor bands, and thus enable the MR-WND to send and receive multipleindependent, but concurrent, RF signal streams with sufficiently highfidelity to enable high bandwidth connectivity to large numbers ofclient devices preferentially up to distances of circa 100 feet.Examples of the MR-WND that could utilize the antenna systems herein aredisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 9,749,241. Hereafter, we referinterchangeably to wireless network device (WND) and MR-WND as being amulti-radio wireless network device.

BACKGROUND

Examples of the environments that would most benefit from this antennasystem (and by implication, the WND incorporating said antenna system)are: stadiums, large auditoria, arenas, as well as other similarenvironments that need wireless services provisioned from a WND or aplurality of WNDs, either from a far distance to a defined coveragearea, or from a closer distance. In both instances, when there are largenumbers of wireless client device users, for example at a user-userseparation of one meter, we characterize such environments as ultra-highdensity (UHD) environments.

For the purposes of the implementations discussed herein, we definecoverage as the defined area of space wherein the RF signals are ofsufficient signal strength or fidelity to provide the requisite wirelessservice desired by the WND.

We first discuss the physical attributes, performance and functionalityrequired of the antenna system that arise from the MR-WND functionalityand its use in UHD environments: enabling simultaneous MIMO/MU-MIMOcommunications in quasi-LOS/LOS (line of sight) environments frommultiple radios.

Many UHD environments, such as those defined above, are environmentswhere the client device-WND separation may be over 100 ft. Thisseparation distance, together with the use of directional antennas,means that the client device to WND link separation is effectively aLine of Sight (LOS) or quasi-LOS environment. It is well known that MIMOand MU-MIMO techniques can be used to provide increased link capacityand data rate throughput to a user device, and rely upon a highscattering path between the WND and the client-device so that the signalis efficiently decorrelated at the receiver side. The low scatter inLOS/quasi-LOS environments, however, means that engaging MIMO/MU-MIMOfunctionality requires a diversity scheme that operates efficiently inthis low scatter regime, such as is the case with polarizationdiversity. Polarization diversity can be realized using, for example,dual linear polarization transmit antennas and receive antennas. So longas the antennas are sufficiently isolated, a single pair of dual linearand orthogonal polarization antennas can implement diversity of order2×2 by connecting each antenna feed to the radio chain of a commonradio.

The antenna system in the MR-WND would have to implement multiple duallinear and orthogonal pair antennas, in a compact footprint for eachMIMO order, and multiple such pairs for each radio. So long assufficient isolation is maintained between all antennas, this MIMOscheme can be scaled so to enable diversity of order 3×3, 4×4 etc., witha common radio, and a multiplicity of such can enable MxN diversity forM or N radios, in a MR-WND. However, wireless link isolation provided byantenna spacing alone is hard to achieve in a small form factor WND dueto poor scattering in LOS/quasi-LOS environments. That is, simplyreplicating similar dual linear and orthogonal polarization pairantennas will not provide efficient MIMO and MU-MIMO communications inUHD environments and thus other means should be employed to providewireless link isolation.

For example, a different approach to provide wireless channel isolationin these cases is to employ radiation pattern diversity wherebydifferent antennas have different radiation patterns. This method,however, is only feasible if the radiation patterns of the antenna arrayso assembled still achieve MIMO/MU-MIMO functionality in a LOS/quasi-LOSenvironment as per the UHD context. In addition, very high isolationbetween RF signals from different radios must be maintained to avoidinter-radio interference within the MR-WND and enable multipleconcurrent MIMO/MU-MIMO communications in the MR-WND.

We next discuss a defined coverage area with improved uniformity ofsignal fidelity across the coverage area. Whereas a directional antennanaturally provides a defined coverage, the signal fidelity (defined asSINR) can vary substantially across the coverage area, both because ofthe natural roll off of the RF signal power towards the edge of thearea, and the increasing encroachment of deleterious interference fromoutside the coverage area particularly at the edge. This non-uniformitylowers the overall data rate throughput when there are multiple wirelessusers in the coverage area, because the slowest users will require moreairtime, for example in a WND providing WiFi service. In a MR-WND,particularly for UHD, it would be more desirable for the antenna systemto provide better uniformity of SINR, and improved rejection ofinterference from outside the coverage area.

The deficiencies of current wireless network devices to realize thepreferable feature sets above arise substantially from shortcomings inthe antenna system employed in the wireless network device (the antennasystem being defined as the RF circuits and radiating elements beyondthe RF connectors to the radio(s)). A first category of often usedwireless network devices employs omni-directional antennas. However,such antennas do not provide sufficient antenna gain and directivity forthe identified use cases in UHD environments. A second category ofwireless network devices typically employs fixed beam directionalantennas with narrow beams and orthogonal polarization for efficientMIMO support in LOS environments. In both categories, however, ifmultiple radios operating in a common spectral band are to be employed,this requires specific issues arising from the co-integration ofmultiple directional antennas for multiple radios to be appropriatelyaddressed. Such issues include: providing sufficient isolation betweenradios to support concurrent transmissions, and leveraging theintegration of multiple radios in a discrete wireless network device toenable it to provide greater coverage and data service flexibility inorder to better serve its clients and/or minimize signal interference toadjacent wireless network devices.

U.S. Pat. No. 9,749,241 describes a wireless network device, illustratedin FIG. 1, comprising multiple radios each with multiple radio RFtransceiver chains (example of such radios include MIMO and MU-MIMOradios), an interface matrix and multiple multi-port antennas. Themulti-port antennas have at least two ports and can simultaneouslytransmit multiple beams. Each beam may radiate the same or different RFsignal and each beam has different signal polarization and/or radiationpattern (a radiation pattern is mainly characterized by the maximum gaindirection and its beamwidth). The interface matrix interconnects the RFsignals from the radios to the multi-port antennas ports. Optionally,the interconnection can be dynamically configured.

SUMMARY

In the present disclosure we address the design and implementation of anantenna system that resolves the additional problem of providingefficient MIMO and MU-MIMO communications concurrently with multipleradios in UHD environments. The antenna system would itself be acomposite of a plurality of directional antennas, together with other RFelements, configured so as to achieve this result. We discuss ourembodiments of the antenna system, as a composite of a plurality ofvarious RF elements. In particular, the antenna system comprisespreferentially a plurality of directional antennas, as opposed toomni-directional antennas. Directional antennas, by their nature,provide means to reject deleterious signals presenting as interferencefrom outside the coverage area. In the embodiments disclosed herein, theantenna system is defined such that it can achieve the featureattributes required of the WND, in a manner that is compact, andaddresses the multitude of physical challenges that arise from itsintegration. We address both use cases, identified above, where either awide coverage area or a narrow coverage area with high antenna gain anddirectivity are required. The disclosed antenna systems thus enable thedeployment of high capacity wireless networks for a wide variety of UHDenvironments. Some embodiments of the antenna system disclosed in thisapplication, are specific realizations of the multiple multi-portantennas described in U.S. Pat. No. 9,749,241. The disclosed antennasystem can optionally incorporate means to reconfigure an interfacematrix to enable dynamic coverage and interference management of thedifferent radios.

The objective of this present disclosure is to show particular methodsto implement an antenna system with the following features/aspects(important to MD type environments): (1) means to radiate for at leasttwo radios and at least two RF signals per radio with orthogonalpolarization everywhere in the intended coverage zone of each radio ofthe wireless network device to efficiently support MIMO communicationsin UHD environments; (2) means to provide coverage in an area whilereducing signal leakage and increasing signal rejection to/from adjacentWND in order to provide good connectivity in the coverage area whiledecreasing the channel reuse distance; and (3) sufficient isolationbetween radios to enable concurrent radio transmission and reception. Inthe result, we consider desirable, but not limiting, attributes arisingfrom two MR-WND coverage use cases typified in UHD environments. In thefirst case, coverage in a relatively wide area is desired.

More specifically, the coverage beamwidth should be between 90 degreesand 160 degrees. This feature is to provide coverage in large areas,such as conference halls, stadium or airport concourses, etc. In thesecond case, a relatively small coverage with a narrow beam and highsignal gain is desired. More specifically, the coverage beamwidth shouldbe smaller than 60 degrees with more than 6-dBi gain and low side lobelevels. This feature is to provide coverage from locations far fromusers, such as in a stadium or arena bowl seating area.

Additional desirable optional features that are incorporated include:(1) means to radiate for some radios at least four RF signals, where twoRF signals radiate in a given direction with a given beamwidth withorthogonal polarization and the two other RF signals radiate in adifferent direction and/or different beamwidth with orthogonalpolarization with respect to the first two RF signals. This featurehelps decorrelate the wireless link and enhances MU-MIMO transmission inUHD environments to distinct users via pattern diversity; (2) means toindependently reconfigure the intended coverage direction and/orintended coverage area of some of the radios, in order to dynamicallyreassign radio capacity where required relative to the wireless networkdevice location, and/or decrease RF interference in/from givendirections. A particularly desirable feature is to reassign the capacityof all radios in the same coverage zone or in different coverage zones,and; (3) the antenna system has a small conformal or planar form factor.This feature is required to design aesthetic wireless network devices.

Details of one or more implementations of the disclosed technologies areset forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Otherfeatures, aspects, descriptions and potential advantages will becomeapparent from the description, the drawings and the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a conventional multi-radio wireless networkdevice (MR-WND).

FIGS. 2A-2C show aspects of a multi-radio wireless network device thatincludes an antenna system in accordance with the disclosedtechnologies.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of an example of a multi-segment multi-port (MSMP)antenna.

FIG. 4 is a diagram of a wireless network device which includes a singleradio with four RF chains and an antenna system that includes fourplanar antenna segments.

FIGS. 5A-5B show aspects of an example of a dual linear polarizationmicrostrip patch antenna.

FIGS. 6-7 show aspects of an embodiment of an MSMP antenna whichincludes four planar antenna segments, each of which implemented assingle dual linear polarization microstrip patch antenna.

FIG. 8 is a diagram of an MSMP antenna system which includes aninterface matrix and a four-segment multi-port antenna, where theinterface matrix connects four RF chains of a radio to the four antennasegments using a configurable interconnecting arrangement.

FIG. 9 is a diagram of an MSMP antenna system which includes aninterface matrix and a four-segment multi-port antenna, where theinterface matrix connects eight RF chains of a radio to the four antennasegments using a fixed interconnecting arrangement.

FIG. 10 is a diagram of an MSMP antenna system which includes aninterface matrix and an eight-segment multi-port antenna, where theinterface matrix connects eight RF chains of a radio to the eightantenna segments using either a fixed or a configurable interconnectingarrangement.

FIG. 11 is a diagram of a multi-radio wireless network device whichincludes two radios each with four RF chains and an MR-MSMP antennasystem that includes two MSMP antennas each with four planar antennasegments.

FIGS. 12-13 show aspects of an embodiment of an MR-MSMP antennastructure which includes two MSMP antennas each with four planar antennasegments, each of which implemented as single dual linear polarizationmicrostrip patch antenna.

FIG. 14 shows an example of an arrangement on a PCB of two planarantenna segments, each of which implemented as single dual linearpolarization microstrip patch antenna, of respective two MSMP antennas.

FIG. 15 is a diagram of an MR-MSMP antenna system which includes aninterface matrix and two MSMP antennas each having four planar antennasegments, where the interface matrix connects four RF chains from eachof two radios to the respective four antenna segments of the MSMPantennas using a configurable interconnecting arrangement.

FIG. 16 is a diagram of an example of a multi-port array (MS A) antenna.

FIG. 17 is a diagram of an example of an MSA antenna which includes anMPA antenna feeding network.

FIG. 18 is a diagram of an MSA antenna which includes sub-arrays of dualpolarization antenna elements, MIMO feeding networks, interconnectingfeeding networks and row feeding networks.

FIG. 19 is a diagram of a sub-array of antenna elements, each of whichimplemented as single dual linear polarization microstrip patch antenna,and the row feeding networks.

FIGS. 20-21 are diagrams of respective examples of interconnectionfeeding networks.

FIG. 22 is a diagram of an MSA antenna system including an MSA antennaconfigured like the one in FIG. 18, in which the MIMO feeding networkshave been implemented as pass-through feeding networks.

FIG. 23 is a diagram of a 90°-hybrid coupler.

FIG. 24 is a diagram of an MSA antenna system including an MSA antennaconfigured like the one in FIG. 18, in which the MIMO feeding networkshave been implemented as 90°-hybrid coupler feeding networks.

FIG. 25 is a diagram of an 8×8 Butler matrix.

FIG. 26 is a schematic of an 8×8 Butler matrix coupled to antennaelements emitting eight beams along different directions.

FIG. 27 is a diagram of an MSA antenna system including an MSA antennaconfigured like the one in FIG. 18, in which the MIMO feeding networkshave been implemented as 8×8 Butler matrices.

FIG. 28 is a diagram of a 4×8 MPA antenna system in which the MPAantenna has a single feeding network.

FIG. 29 is a diagram of a 4×8 MPA antenna system in which the MPAantenna has dual feeding networks.

FIG. 30 is a diagram of a 4×8 MPA antenna system in which the MPAantenna has a Butler matrix feeding network.

FIGS. 31-32 show aspects of multi-radio (MR) MPA antenna systems.

FIGS. 33-37 show coverage areas accomplished for differentconfigurations of MR-MPA antenna systems from FIGS. 31-32.

Certain illustrative aspects of the disclosed technologies are describedherein in connection with the following description and the accompanyingfigures. These aspects are, however, indicative of but a few of thevarious ways in which the principles of the disclosed technologies maybe employed and the disclosed technologies are intended to include allsuch aspects and their equivalents. Other advantages and novel featuresof the disclosed technologies may become apparent from the followingdetailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 2A is a diagram of an antenna system 200 that includes multipleantennas 210 and an interface matrix 220 for a MR-WND 201 that comprisesat least two radios 230, each radio with multiple radio transceiverchains 232 (also referred to as RF chains). Examples of such radios 230include MIMO and MU-MIMO radios. In the WND 201, each RF chain 232 of aradio 230 transmits on the same RF channel RF signals 205 belonging tothe same data channel. The RF signals 205 can be the same or different.For clarity in the following we will assume that RF signals 205 aredifferent. Each radio 230 transmits and receives RF signals 205 in oneor more RF channels within an operating RF band. The RF band itselfconsists of RF spectrum that divided into multiple RF channels. The RFchannels can be non-contiguous and the RF band may consist ofnon-contiguous RF spectrum. For clarity, in the following we will assumea single RF channel. Different radios transmit and receive RF signals205 in RF channels in substantially non-overlapping RF bands. The RFchains of the radios 230 connect through the interface matrix 220 to theports 212 of the multiple antennas 210. The interface matrix 220 couldbe reconfigured to selectively interconnect the RF chains 232 to theantenna ports 212 to dynamically change the spatial coverage of saidradios 230. FIG. 2A illustrates an example of an interconnection of theradios 230, interface matrix 220 and antennas 210 in the MR-WND 201. Ingeneral, the number of radios 230 may differ from the number of antennas210, and a radio can be connected simultaneously to different antennas.

The interface matrix 220 may comprise cables, transmission lines,switching elements and/or power dividing/combining elements toselectively route and connect or disconnect the RF chains 232 to each ofthe individual antenna feeds. Furthermore, the interface matrix 220 canbe configured to allow each RF chain 232 to be coupled to none, one ormultiple antenna feeds of the antenna system 200. The state of theswitching elements is dynamically configured via the interface matrixcontrol signals 222. The interface matrix 220 can also include RFfilters to further reject signals outside the radio's operating RF band.Furthermore, the interface matrix 220 may comprise multiple separateinterface matrix modules implemented on separate PCB.

Here, each radio 230 in the wireless network device 201 communicatesdata wirelessly according to communication protocols, such as thosespecified by IEEE 802.11, LTE (and its variants, LTE-U, MuLTEfire,etc.), IEEE 802.15.4 (Zigbee), Bluetooth, and/or other type of wirelesscommunication protocols. Different radios 230 can operate according todifferent user desired protocols. The radios 230 can also be multipleprotocol capable, to be reconfigured to operate using differentcommunication protocols. In the discussion that follows, for clarity,IEEE 802.11ac with four antennas is often used as an illustrativeexample. However, this does not restrict the scope of the describedtechnologies and their applicability to particular radios or particularcommunication protocols.

The system logic 236 to determine the control signals 222 required toconfigure the coupling state realized by the interface matrix 220 can beimplemented in either the radios 230, or a processor in a processor bankattached to the radios or a separate entity in the data network attachedto a wireless network device communication interface such as a differentwireless network access device or a wireless network access controller,or a combination of the above.

As discussed above, UHD deployments environments are best addressedusing an antenna system 200 with either low gain and directivityproviding wide coverage area (also referred to as UHD type-1 or simplytype-1) or high gain and directivity providing narrow coverage area(also referred to as MD type-2 or simply type-2). FIGS. 2B and 2Cillustrate, without limitation, type 1 coverage area 290B and type 2coverage area 290C, respectively. An example of type-1 coverage 290B isencountered in deployment of a ceiling mount MR-WND 201 at a height ofless than 15 feet while an example of type-2 coverage 290C isencountered in deployment of a MR-WND 201 on a canopy or catwalk toserve users at a distance circa 100 feet. In the absence of a singleantenna system that provides ideal capability for both type-1 and type-2use cases we disclose two approaches to realizing an antenna system, onefor UHD type-1 and one for UHD type-2, with each approach itselfconsisting of two steps. Although both antenna systems differ in theirspecific composition, the high-level elements of both antenna systemsare common to the ones of the antenna system 200 illustrated in FIG. 2A.

In the first approach, we describe in a first step a first antennasystem comprising a multi-segment multi-port (MSMP) antenna and aninterface matrix for a WND having one radio. This MSMP antenna systemprovides means to the radio to cover a wide area as per UHD type-1. In asecond step, we describe how to extend the MSMP antenna system to aMR-WND comprising at least two radios. This MR-WND employing amulti-radio MSMP antenna system comprising multiple MSMP antennas issuitably the first solution approach to provide coverage in type-1 wideareas.

In the second approach, we describe in a first step an antenna systemcomprising a Multi-Port Array (MPA) antenna and an interface matrix fora WND having one radio. This MPA antenna provides high gain and highdirectivity to provide adequate service to users from a large distanceas per UHD type-2. In a second step, we describe how to extend the MPAantenna system to a MR-WND comprising at least two radios. This MR-WNDemploying MPA antennas is suited for UHD type-2 environments.

FIG. 3 illustrates the concept of an MSMP antenna 310 and its interfaceto a radio with multiple RF radio chains. The MSMP antenna 310 comprisesmultiple antenna segments 314 wherein each antenna segment has a commonantenna port 312 comprising two separate antenna feeds 334 and means toradiate RF signals coupled to the antenna feeds with a directionalradiation pattern. Further, each antenna segment 314 in the MSMP antenna310 is a planar structure than can be independently oriented from theother segments (that is, the normal to each antenna segment plane can bepositioned in independent directions). Each antenna feed 334 can beconnected, through the interface matrix (e.g., 220), to a RF chain ofthe radio. Each RF chain transmits/receives a RF signal 305 from aradio.

Generally, a RF chain can be interconnected to none, one or more thanone antenna feed 334 and an antenna feed can be connected to none, oneor more than one RF chain. RF signals 305 coupled to the two differentRF antenna feeds 334 of a common antenna port 312 are radiated by theantenna segment 314 with two different directional (non-omnidirectional)beams 342H, 342V. Both directional beams 342H, 342V radiate the RFsignals with substantially similar radiation patterns, but withorthogonal polarizations. We refer to these dual beams as the verticalpolarization beam 342V and horizontal polarization beam 342H of theantenna port 312 or antenna segment 314. In the result, each port 312 ofthe MSMP antenna 310 provides means to radiate a pair of directionalbeams 342H, 342V with orthogonal polarization in substantially differentdirections from the other ports 312. The antenna segment 314'sproperties (planar structure, independent geometric arrangement ofdifferent antenna segments, directional beam, two antenna feed,orthogonal polarization) make the MSMP antenna system, as we discloselater, an excellent choice to achieve type-1 coverage 290B with a MR-WND201.

FIG. 4 is a diagram of an MR-WND 401 that uses an MSMP antenna system400. For sake of clarity, and without limitation, the embodiment of theMR-WND 401 has one radio with four RF chains 432. The MSMP antennasystem 400 comprises an MSMP antenna 410 and an interface matrix 420,with the MSMP antenna consisting of four planar antenna segments 414.Somebody skilled in the art can easily extend the embodiment of theMR-WND 401 having a single radio 430 to different number of radios, RFchains, MSMP antennas, planar antennas per MSMP antenna, etc. In theexample illustrated in FIG. 4, the MSMP antenna 410 consists of fourdistinct planar antenna segments 414. Each planar antenna segment 414 isfabricated on a separate printed circuit board (PCB). The planar antennasegments 414 can also be designed to have a low reflection coefficientin a given operating frequency band and a high reflection coefficientoutside the band. As will be shown, this becomes an important enablerfor multi-radio operations.

FIG. 5A shows an example of a planar antenna segment 414 implementedhere as a dual linear polarization microstrip patch antenna 514fabricated on a PCB 511. FIG. 5B shows an intensity distribution 519 ofa fixed directional beam that is emitted by the microstrip patch antenna514 in the direction normal 520 of the patch antenna 514's plane. Here,the fixed directional beam has a 3-dB beamwidth of approximately 90degrees (the actual beamwidth depends on the ground plane dimensions).By tuning its width 525 and length 526, the patch antenna 514 can bedesigned to have a low reflection coefficient in a given operatingfrequency band and a high reflection coefficient outside the band. Thedual linear polarization microstrip patch antenna 514 has two antennafeeds, and the two feeds 534H, 534V together constitute the planarantenna segment port 512. By appropriately connecting the antenna feeds534H, 534V to the patch antenna, the single patch antenna 514 cansimultaneously radiate two different RF signals with vertical andhorizontal polarization.

Multiple microstrip patch antennas 514 can also be fabricated on asingle PCB so as to construct multiple MSMP antennas for a MR-WND.Another example of a planar antenna segment that can be employed in thismanner is a stacked patch antenna. In all the considered arrangements,the multiple planar antenna segments of the MSMP antenna are oriented onnon-parallel planes. That is, the normal 520 to each planar antennasegment is oriented in a different direction. Therefore, RF signalscoupled to different ports of the MSMP antenna will simultaneouslyradiate with different beams having different directions.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5A, the interface matrix 420 provides meansto interconnect the different RF chains 432 of the radio 430 to one ormore antenna feeds 534H, 534V of the planar antenna segments 414, 514.The interface matrix 420 can further include means to dynamicallyreconfigure the interconnections between the multiple RF radio chains432 and the multiple antenna ports 512. In generality, the interfacematrix 420 can be configured to allow each RF chain 432 to be coupled tonone, one or multiple planar antenna segments 414, 514 of the MSMPantenna 410. In the result, by appropriately designing the geometry ofthe planar antenna segments 414, 514 of the MSMP antenna 410 andselectively interconnecting RF chains 432 of the radio 430 to theantenna feeds 534H, 534V on the planar antenna segments 414, 514, it ispossible to achieve multiple well-controlled coverage areas for theradio 430 with the same MSMP antenna 410. The interface matrix 420 inthis arrangement can also implement the further function and means toreject or improve the rejection of signals outside a given band. RFfilters, which are devices providing low insertion loss in a given RFband (the RF band may consist of contiguous or non-contiguous RFspectrum) and high signal rejection outside this band, will be oftenused in the following exemplary embodiment as a mean to provide thisfunction in the interface matrix 420.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view, and FIG. 7 is a side view into the(y,z)-plane, of an embodiment of an MSMP antenna 610 configured as ageometrical circuit arrangement comprising four planar antenna segments614-1, 614-2, 614-3, 614-4, each of which implemented as the dual linearpolarization microstrip patch antenna 514 of FIG. 5. Note that the sideview into the (x,z)-plane of the MSMP antenna 610 is similar to the oneillustrated in FIG. 7. The MSMP antenna 610 is supported on a chassis613 (which can be the housing of the MR-WND 401, for instance) andincludes a base 615 and the four planar antenna segments 614-1, 614-2,614-3, 614-4. In the example illustrated in FIGS. 6-7, the base 615 hasa surface parallel to the (x,y)-plane that represents a reference planefor the geometrical circuit arrangement of the MSMP antenna 610. Thefour planar antenna segments 614-1, 614-2, 614-3, 614-4 are assembled onthe base 615 as illustrated in FIGS. 6-7. A first pair 616-1 of twoplanar antenna segments 614-1, 614-2 are arranged such that theirrespective normals have the same angle θ with a reference plane normal(the XY plane). For the case where the planar antenna segments aremicrostrip patch antennas, a range of values for angle θ is 10° to 40°,with a preferred value for this angle being θ=30°. Furthermore, a firstplane (the YZ plane) defined by the normals of the first pair 616-1 oftwo planar antenna segments 614-1, 614-2 is orthogonal to the referenceplane 613 (the XY plane). A second pair 616-2 of two planar antennasegments 614-3, 614-4 are arranged such that their respective normal hasthe same angle θ with a reference plane (the XY plane) as the first twoplanar antenna segments 614-1, 614-2. Furthermore, the second plane (theXZ plane) defined by the normals of the second pair 616-2 of two planarantenna segments 614-3, 614-4 is orthogonal to the reference plane (theXY plane), and is orthogonal to the first plane (the YZ plane) definedby the normals of the first pair 616-1 of two planar antenna segments614-1, 614-2. FIG. 5 furthers shows that the respective horizontal (orvertical, as the case may be) antenna feeds 534H, 534V of the differentantenna segments 614-1, 614-2, 614-3, 614-4 are co-aligned. Thisarrangement is preferable in the embodiment 610, as symmetry of theresulting composite RF pattern from the antenna system 400 is desirablein this embodiment, but for generality the antenna feeds 534H, 534V ofthe different antenna segments 614-1, 614-2, 614-3, 614-4 need not be soaligned.

FIG. 8 is a diagram of an MSMP antenna system 800 comprising aninterface matrix 820 between the four RF chains 432-1, 432-2, 432-3,432-4 of the radio 430 and the eight antenna feeds of the four antennasegments 614-1, 614-2, 614-3, 614-4 of the MSMP antenna 610 illustratedin FIG. 6 and FIG. 7. A first RF chain 432-1 of the radio 430 isinterconnected through the interface matrix 820 to a first antenna feed534H, 534V on a first planar antenna segment 614-1 of the first pair616-1 of two opposite planar antenna segments 614-1, 614-2 and to afirst antenna feed 534V, 534H on a second planar antenna segment 614-2of the first pair 616-1 of two opposite planar antenna segments 614-1,614-2. Therefore, the RF signal from the first RF chain 432-1 willradiate with different beams in different directions from both planarantenna segments 614-1, 614-2. Note that the two antenna feeds 534H,534V, one to each of the opposite planar antenna segments 614-1, 614-2,can be selected such that they radiate the same signal with either thesame or different polarization. A second RF chain 432-2 of the radio 430is interconnected in a similar manner through the interface matrix 820to each of the two ports 512 of the first pair 616-1 of two planarantenna segments 614-1, 614-2, but to antenna feeds other than theantenna feeds 534H, 534V interconnected to the first RF chain 432-1. Athird and fourth RF chains 432-3, 432-4 of the radio 430 areinterconnected through the interface matrix 820 to the second pair 616-2of two planar antenna segments 614-3, 614-4 in a similar manner as thefirst and second RF chains 432-1, 432-2.

The interface matrix 820 can further include switching elements (S) 824to dynamically and independently interconnect or disconnect each RFchain 432-1, 432-2, 432-3, 432-4 to each of the antenna feeds 534H,534V. The interface matrix 820 then enables the reconfiguration of theradio coverage area, including its direction and width. The state of theswitching elements 824 is dynamically configured via the interfacematrix control signals 422. The interface matrix 820 can also includeinline RF filters (F) 826 to further reject signals outside the desiredoperating frequency band.

One skilled in the art can easily extend this exemplary embodiment ofantenna system 800 to be used with radios with a smaller or largernumber of RF chains. FIG. 9 is a diagram of an MSMP antenna system 900comprising an interface matrix 920 between eight RF chains 832-1, . . ., 832-8 of a radio and the eight antenna feeds of the four planarantenna segments 614-1, 614-2, 614-3, 614-4 of the MSMP antenna 610illustrated in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7. The eight antenna feeds of the MSMPantenna 610 can be interconnected with the eight RF chains 832-1, . . ., 832-8 of the radio using a fixed arrangement of the interface matrix920, as illustrated in FIG. 9. This fixed arrangement of the interfacematrix 920 provides all the required features, except providing meansthrough the interface matrix 920 to reconfigure the coverage area.

FIG. 10 is a diagram of an MSMP antenna system 1000 comprising aninterface matrix 1020 between eight RF chains 832-1, . . . , 832-8 of aradio and sixteen antenna feeds of eight planar antenna segments 1014-1,. . . , 1014-8 of an MSMP antenna. The eight-segment multi-port antenna,having planar antenna segments 1011-1, . . . , 1014-8, can beinterconnected with the eight RF chains 832-1, . . . , 832-8 of theradio using an interface matrix 1020, as shown in FIG. 10. Theinterconnection between the antenna feeds 534H, 534V and RF chains832-1, . . . , 832-8 is similar to the arrangement with the radio withfour RF chains illustrated in FIG. 8. To be more specific, RF chains832-1 and 832-2, RF chains 832-3 and 832-4, RF chains 832-5 and 832-6,RF chains 832-7 and 832-8, are respectively interconnected through theinterface matrix 1020 to the antenna feeds 534H, 534V of the first,second, third and fourth pair 1016-1, . . . , 1016-4 of planar antennasegments, where first, second, third and fourth pair 1016-1, . . . ,1016-4 of planar antenna segments respectively consist of planar antennasegments 1014-1 and 1014-2, planar antenna segments 1014-3 and 1014-4,planar antenna segments 1014-5 and 1014-6, and planar antenna segments1014-7 and 1014-8. If the interface matrix 1020 further includesswitching elements to dynamically and independently interconnect ordisconnect each RF chain 832-1, . . . , 832-8 to each of the antennafeeds 534H, 534V, it then become possible to selectively reconfigure thecoverage area, including its profile, direction and width, obtainable bythe radio with eight RF chains 832-1, . . . , 832-8.

One can appreciate that by employing similar microstrip patch antennas514 in the multiple segments, the composite radiated signal level, orcoverage pattern of the MSMP antenna system 400, 800, 900, 1000 issubstantially axially symmetric and uniform in the entire coverage area.This is a desirable and specifically intended feature and benefit ofthis arrangement, in order to provide uniform service to a plurality ofclient devices wherever they are located in the type-1 coverage area.

Other benefits and features of the arrangement of antenna system 400,800, 900, 1000 are: (1) it is possible to achieve various alternatecoverage patterns for the radio varying from an approximately 90×90degree sector coverage to 160×160 degree sector coverage by selectivelyinterconnecting the RF chains to the antenna feeds in the interfacematrix 420, 820, 920, 1020; (2) the achievable radiation patterns havemaximum gain in front of the MR-WND 401 (along the Z axis) and minimizethe signal propagation of signal close or beyond the reference plane (XYplane). This minimizes, as intended, the interference leakage toadjacent wireless network devices and client devices outside theintended service area that may be using the same RF channel; (3)everywhere in the coverage area of the radio, there are always twosignals emanating on different beams with orthogonal polarization. Thisis a desired feature to provide efficient MIMO communication links withtwo spatial streams in a LOS/quasi-LOS setting; (4) different RF signalsare radiated in different directions (e.g., the RF signals from thefirst and second RF chains 432-1, 432-2 radiate in substantiallydifferent directions as the RF signals from the third and fourth RFchains 432-3, 432-4). This provides additional signal discriminationthat further enhance the performance of MU-MIMO communications; (5) theMSMP antenna system 400, 800, 900, 1000 has a low profile and can beintegrated in a wireless network device 401 with aesthetic design; and(6) as we will explain below, the MSMP antenna system 400, 800, 900,1000 is suitable for the integration of multiple radios in MR-WND. Onecan thus appreciate the significant benefits provided by the disclosedMSMP antenna system 400, 800, 900, 1000 over state-of-the-art antennasystems.

We further recognize, in the second step of the first approach for thedesign of an antenna system for UHD with wide type-1 coverage, theseveral characteristics possessed by the MSMP antenna system 400, 800,900, 1000 that are critical for a multiple radio implementation. First,the planar and multi-segment nature of the MSMP antenna makes itamenable to integrate multiple MSMP antennas in a small form factorwireless network device. Second, the MSMP antenna structure makes ispossible to conceive a geometric arrangement with interface matrix thatenables the coverage properties identified before. Finally, the MSMPantenna has improved intrinsic signal rejection properties which arisefrom the compounding effects of (1) the directionality and orthogonalityof the beams of the various antenna segments, (2) the purposeful andflexible geometric separation and arrangement of the antenna segmentsand, (3) the optional use of in-line RF filters, enhances the isolationbetween multiple radios to enable simultaneous operations of themultiple radios.

FIG. 11 is a diagram of an MR-WND 1101 that uses a multi-radio MSMP(MR-MSMP) antenna system 1100. For sake of clarity, the MR-WND 1101 hastwo radios 1130-1, 1130-2 each with four RF chains 1132. The first radio1130-1 operates on channels in a first band and the second radio 1130-2operates on channels in a second band. The two bands are mostlynon-overlapping. The MR-MSMP antenna system 1100 comprises an interfacematrix 1120 and two MSMP antennas 1110-1, 1110-2 each consisting of fourplanar antenna segments 1114. In other embodiments, the MR-WND 1101 canhave a different number of radios, RF chains, and/or can use a differentnumber of MSMP antennas, planar antenna segments per MSMP antenna, etc.Moreover, the MSMP antennas of the MR-MSMP antenna system 1100 can beassembled in an MR-MSMP antenna assembly 1140 described in detail belowin connection with FIGS. 12-13.

For the MR-MSMP antenna system 1100, each MSMP antenna 1110-1, 1110-2includes four distinct planar antenna segments 1114. The MSMP antennas1110-1, 1110-2 and their respective set of four planar antenna segments1114 can be arranged to form an MR-MSMP antenna structure 1140 whichwill be described in detail below in connection with FIGS. 12-13. Eachplanar antenna segment 1114 of each MSMP antenna 1110 is fabricated on aseparate PCB. Note that as will be described below, planar antennasegments 1114 of different multi-segment multi-port antennas 1110 can befabricated on the same PCB. Each planar antenna segment 1114 is alsodesigned to have a low reflection coefficient in a desired operatingfrequency band and a high reflection coefficient outside the band toenhance isolation between RF signals of different radios 1130-1, 1130-2.A reflection coefficient is defined as a ratio of the amplitude of thereflected signal to the amplitude of the incident signal. Here, the lowreflection coefficient in the desired operating frequency band isdesigned to be at least 2 to 3 times smaller than the high reflectioncoefficient outside the band, when measured for a relative frequencyseparation of 5% to 10%. The relative frequency separation is defined as

${\frac{{f_{L} - f_{H}}}{f_{L} + f_{H}} \times 2 \times 100},$

where f_(L) is the frequency at which the low reflection coefficient ismeasured, and f_(H) is the frequency at which the high reflectioncoefficient is measured. Note that the high reflection coefficient istypically 0.85 or larger, 0.9 or larger, 0.95 or larger, or 0.99 orlarger. Moreover, the planar antenna segments 1114 of each MSMP antenna1110-1, 1110-2 are on non-parallel planes. That is, the normal to eachplanar antenna segment 1114 belonging to the same MSMP antenna 1110-1 or1110-2 is oriented in a different direction. Therefore, RF signalscoupled to different ports of a MSMP antenna 1110-1 or 1110-2 willsimultaneously radiate with different beams having different directions.

In general, there are no constraints on the mutual geometric arrangementof the different MSMP antennas 1110-1, 1110-2 in the MR-MSMP antennastructure 1140 of the MR-MSMP antenna system 1100. That is, none, someor all antenna segments 1114 belonging to a different MSMP antenna,e.g., 1110-1, can be parallel to an antenna segment 1114 belonging to adifferent MSMP antenna, e.g., 1110-2. In a particular arrangement, eachantenna segment 1114 of the first MSMP antenna 1110-1 interconnected tothe first radio 1130-1's RF chains 1132 is in a plane parallel to theplane of one and only one planar antenna segment 1114 of the second MSMPantenna 1110-2 interconnected to the second radio 1130-2's RF chains1132 (that is, both planar antenna segment normal are oriented in thesame direction). This arrangement leads to several advantages. First,parallel planar antenna segments 1114 of the different MSMP antennas1110-1 and 1110-2 can be fabricated on a single PCB, leading to lowercost and smaller size. Second, it becomes possible, to conceive andconfigure an interface matrix 1120 to have coverage area for each radioranging from mutually fully overlapping to non-overlapping.

The interface matrix 1120 of the MR-MSMP antenna system 1100 providesmeans to interconnect the different RF chains 1132 of the multipleradios 1130-1, 1130-2 to one or more antenna feeds of the planar antennasegments 1114 of the MSMP antennas 1110-1, 1110-2. The interface matrix1120 can further include means to dynamically reconfigure theinterconnections. By appropriately designing the geometry of the planarantenna segments 1114 and selectively interconnecting RF chains 1132 ofeach radio 1130-1, 1130-2 to the antenna feeds on the planar antennasegments 1114, it is possible to independently achieve multiplewell-controlled coverage area for each radio 1130-1, 1130-2 with thesame MR-MSMP antenna system 1100. The interface matrix 1120 can alsoinclude means to reject signals outside a given band such as RF filters.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view, and FIG. 13 is a side view into the(y,z)-plane, of an MR-MSMP antenna structure 1240 which includes a base1215 and a particular circuit arrangement of the two MSMP antennas1110-1, 1110-2, each with four planar antenna segments 1214, where thereare parallel antenna segments from each of the MSMP antennas fabricatedon the same PCB 1211. That is, the MR-MSMP antenna structure 1240comprises four PCBs 1211 and each PCB 1211-j comprises one planarantenna segment 1214-(j,1) of the first MSMP antenna 1110-1 and oneplanar antenna segment 1214-(j,2) of the second MSMP antenna 1110-2,where j=1, 2, 3, 4. The MR-MSMP antenna structure 1240 is supported by achassis 1213 (which can be the housing of the MR-WND 1101, forinstance). In the example illustrated in FIGS. 12-13, the four PCBs 1211are assembled on the base 1215, which has a surface parallel to the(x,y)-plane that represents a reference plane for the MR-MSMP antennastructure 1240. Here, the chassis 1215 and the four PCBs 1211 areintegrally formed. The four planar antenna segments 1214-(1,1),1214-(2,1), 1214-(3,1), 1214-(4,1) of the first MSMP antenna 1110-1 aretuned to have a low reflection coefficient in the operating band of thefirst radio and high reflection coefficient outside the band. Similarly,the four planar antenna segments 1214-(1,2), 1214-(2,2), 1214-(3,2),1214-(4,2) of the second MSMP antenna 1110-2 are tuned to have a lowreflection coefficient in the operating band of the second radio andhigh reflection coefficient outside the band.

A first pair 1216-1 of two PCB's (PCB 1211-1 and PCB 1211-2) arearranged such that their respective normal has the same angle θ with thereference plane normal (the XY plane). For the case where the planarantenna segments 1214 of the MSMP antennas 1110-1, 1110-2 are microstrippatch antennas (like 514), a range of values for angle θ is 10° to 40°,with a preferred value for this angle being θ=30°. Further, a firstplane (the YZ plane) defined by the two normals of the first pair 1216-1of two PCBs 1211-1, 1211-2 is orthogonal to the reference plane (the XYplane). A second pair 1216-2 of two PCBs (PCB 1211-3 and PCB 1211-4) arearranged such that their respective normal has the same angle θ with areference plane (the XY plane) as the first pair of two PCB's 1211-1,1211-2. Further, the second plane (the XZ plane) defined by the twonormals of the second pair 1216-2 of two PCBs 1211-3, 1211-4 isorthogonal to the reference plane (the XY plane), and is orthogonal tothe first plane (the YZ plane) defined by the two normals of the firstpair 1216-1 of two PCB's 1211-1, 1211-2.

In the case of this particular arrangement of the MR-MSMP antennastructure 1240, to further reduce coupling between the MSMP antennas1110-1, 1110-2 and improve the isolation between radios 1130-1, 1130-2,it is preferable to alternate the planar antenna segments 1214 order oneach adjacent PCB 1211 such that two planar antenna segments 1214 on thesame corner are interconnected to RF chains belonging to a same radio1130. This configuration is illustrated in FIG. 12. Further, FIG. 14shows a PCB 1411 which supports a planar antenna segment 1414-1 of thefirst MSMP antenna 1110-1 and a planar antenna segment 1414-2 of thesecond MSMP antenna 1110-2. The orientation of the planar antennasegments 1414-1, 1414-2 on the PCB 1411 can be optimized to decrease thecoupling between the MSMP antennas 1110-1, 1110-2 when the PCBs 1211-1,. . . , 1211-4 of the MR-MSMP antenna structure 1240 are implemented asthe PCB 1411. For example, a slant angle α in a range of 30° to 60°,with a preferred value α=45°, can be used between the two planar antennasegments 1414-1, 1414-2 on the PCB 1411, as illustrated in FIG. 14.

FIG. 15 is a diagram of an MR-MSMP antenna system 1500 comprising aninterface matrix 1520 between the eight RF chains 1132-(k,i) of the tworadios 1130-i and the sixteen antenna feeds of the two MSMP antennas1110-i arranged in the MR-MSMP antenna structure 1240 illustrated inFIG. 12 and FIG. 13, where i=1, 2 is a radio/MSMP antenna index, j=1, 2,3, 4 is a PCB/planar antenna segment index, and k=1, 2, 3, 4 is a RFchain index.

A first RF chain 1132-(1,1) of the first radio 1130-1 is interconnectedthrough the interface matrix 1520 to a first antenna feed 534H, 534V ofa first planar antenna segment 1214-(1,1) of a first MSMP antenna 1110-1fabricated on a first PCB 1211-1 of a first pair 1216-1 of two oppositePCBs 1211-1, 1211-2 and to a first antenna feed 534H, 534V of a secondplanar antenna segment 1214-(2,1) of a first MSMP antenna 1110-1fabricated on a second PCB 1211-2 of the first pair 1216-1 of twoopposite PCBs 1211-1, 1211-2. Therefore, the RF signal from the first RFchain 1132-(1,1) will radiate with different beams in a differentdirection from both planar antenna segments 1214-(1,1), 1214-(2,1) ofthe first MSMP antenna 1110-1. Note that the two antenna feeds 534H,534V can be selected such that they radiate the same signal withdifferent or same polarization. However, to avoid creating a phasedarray from the planar antenna segments 1214-(1,1), 1214-(2,1) withpotential undesirable nulls in the desired coverage area, particularlyin a setting where phase control and spacing between the segments cannoteasily be accurately controlled, the two antenna feeds 534H, 534V fromopposite antenna segments can be selected to radiate the same signalwith cross polarization.

A second RF chain 1132-(2,1) of the first radio 1130-1 is interconnectedin a similar manner through the interface matrix 1520 to each of the twoports of the same first planar antenna segment 1214-(1,1) of same firstMSMP antenna 1110-1 fabricated on same first PCB 1211-1 of same firstpair 1216-1 of two opposite PCBs 1211-1, 1211-2 and of the same secondplanar antenna segment 1214-(2,1) of same first MSMP antenna 1110-1fabricated on same second PCB 1211-2 of same first pair 1216-1 of twoopposite PCBs 1211-1, 1211-2. However, the second RF chain 1132-(2,1) offirst radio 1130-1 interconnects to different antenna feeds 534H, 534Vthan the antenna feeds 534H, 534V interconnected to the first RF chain1132-(1,1) of first radio 1130-1. A third and fourth RF chains1132-(3,1), 1132-(4,1) of the same first radio 1130-1 are interconnectedthrough the interface matrix 1520 to the third and fourth planar antennasegments 1214-(3,1), 1214-(4,1) of same first MSMP antenna 1110-1fabricated on the third and fourth PCBs 1211-3, 1211-4 of the secondpair 1216-2 of two opposite PCBs 1211-3, 1211-4 in a similar manner asthe first and second RF chains 1132-(1,1), 1132-(2,1) are interconnectedto the first and second planar antenna segments 1214-(1,1), 1214-(2,1)of the first MSMP antenna 1110-1 fabricated on the first and second PCBs1211-1, 1211-2 of the first pair 1216-1 of two opposite PCBs 1211-1,1211-2.

The interface matrix 1520 of the MR-MSMP antenna system 1500 can furtherinclude switching elements 1524 to dynamically and independentlyinterconnect or disconnect each RF chain 1132-(k,i) of first radio1130-1 to each of the antenna feeds 534H, 534V of the first MSMP antenna1110-1. The state of the switching elements is configurable via theinterface matrix control signals 1122. The interface matrix can alsoinclude inline RF filters 1526 to further reject signals outside thefirst radio 1130-1's operating frequency band.

The four RF chains 1132-(k,2) from the second radio 1130-2 areinterconnected to the four planar antenna segments 1214-(j,2) of thesecond MSMP antenna 1110-2 in a similar manner as the four RF chains1132-(k, l) from the first radio 1130-1. For the second radio 1130-2,the interface matrix 1120 can further include switching elements 1524 todynamically and independently interconnect or disconnect each RF chain1132-(k,2) of the second radio 1130-2 to each of the antenna feeds 534H,534V of second MSMP antenna 1110-2. The state of the switching elements1524 is configurable via the interface matrix control signals 1122. Theinterface matrix 1520 can also include inline RF filters 1526 to furtherreject signals outside the operating band of the second radio. Theinterface matrix 1520 then enables the independent reconfiguration ofthe first radio 1130-1 and second radio 1130-2 coverage areas, includingits profile, direction and width. For example, and without limitations,the coverage areas of the first radio 1130-1 and second radio 1130-2could be configured in one instance to be substantially similar and inanother instance to be mostly non-overlapping.

Referring now to FIGS. 13-14, the MR-MSMP antenna structure 1240 caninclude more or fewer PCBs 1211 and/or additional planar antennasegments 1214 per PCB. Furthermore, the reference plane between the PCBs1211 can also be utilized to integrate other antennas 1110 foradditional radios 1130. Referring now to FIG. 15, the MR-MSMP antennasystem 1500 can be coupled with the same or a greater number of radios1130 with same or greater number of RF chains. For example, and withoutlimitations, two radios—like the eight RF chain radio to which the MSMPantenna system 900, 1000 communicates—could be used such that two radioswith eight RF chains each is coupled with the MR-MSMP antenna system1500.

One can appreciate that with the MR-MSMP antenna system 1100, 1500, thefollowing benefits and features can be accomplished: (1) it is possibleto independently achieve various coverage for each radio varying from anapproximately 90×90 degree sector coverage to 160×160 degree sectorcoverage by selectively interconnecting the RF chains to the antennafeeds in the interface matrix 1120, 1520; (2) the coverage of each radiocan be independently configure and can range from fully-overlapping tonon-overlapping; (3) the achievable radiation patterns of each radio1130-i have maximum gain in front of the MR-WND 1101 (along the Z axis)and minimize the signal propagation of signal close or beyond thereference plane (XY plane). This minimizes, as intended, the generatedinterference to adjacent wireless network devices and client devicesusing the same channel; (4) everywhere in the coverage area of eachradio 1130-i, there is always two signals emanating on different beamswith orthogonal polarization. This is a desired feature to provideefficient MIMO communication links with two spatial streams; (5)different RF signals of each radio 1130-i are radiated in differentdirections (e.g., the RF signals from the first and second RF chains1132-(1,i), 1132-(2,i) radiate in substantially different directions asthe RF signals from the third and fourth RF chains 1132-(3,i),1132-(4,i)). This provides additional signal discrimination that furtherenhance the performance of MU-MIMO communications; (6) the antennasystem 1100, 1500 provides several means to isolate the radios 1130-i(signal rejection antenna tuning, directionality, geometric arrangement,RF filtering) to enable concurrent multi-radio operation; and (7) theantenna system for the multiple radios 1130-i has a low profile and canbe integrated in a wireless network device 1101 with an aesthetic designand form factor that is low profile. For instance, the MR-MSMP antennastructure 1240 that includes two MSMP antennas 1110-1, 1110-2, as shownin FIGS. 12 and 13, has an approximate length of 20 cm, width of 20 cm,and height of 1.6 cm when designed for two radios 1130-1, 1130-2operating in the 5 GHz unlicensed band. One can thus appreciate themultiple significant and unique benefits provided by the disclosedMR-MSMP antenna system 1100, 1500 over state-of-the-art systems.

The MR-MSMP antenna system 1100, 1500 efficiently resolves the problemof providing efficient MIMO and MU-MIMO communications in UHDenvironments where wide type-1 coverage area is required and enabledynamic coverage and interference management. However, it doesn'tprovide sufficient antenna gain and directivity for type-2 UHDdeployment scenarios noted earlier, where a MR-WND is located at afarther distance from client devices (e.g., 100+ feet distance). For thesecond approach we disclose in a first step an antenna system comprisinga high gain high directivity Multi-Port Array (MPA) antenna and aninterface matrix.

FIG. 16 illustrates the concept of an MPA antenna 1610. The MPA antenna1610 comprises at least one antenna port 1612-1, . . . , 1612-N, whereeach antenna port comprises two separate and discrete MPA antenna feeds1634. Each discrete MPA antenna feed 1634 can be connected, through theinterface matrix, to RF chains of a radio comprising multiple RF chains.Each RF chain transmits/receives a RF signal 1605. Generally, a RF chaincan be interconnected to none, one or more than one MPA antenna feed1634 and a MPA antenna feed 1634 can be connected to none, one or morethan one RF chain. RF signals 1605 coupled to the two separate anddiscrete RF antenna feeds 1634 of an antenna port 1612-j are bothradiated by the MPA antenna 1610 giving dual directional beams 1642H,1642V having substantially similar radiation patterns but withorthogonal polarization, where j=1 . . . N.

We refer to these dual beams 1642H, 1642V associated with the twoantenna feeds 1634 of an MPA antenna port 1612-j as the verticalpolarization beam 1642V and horizontal polarization beam 1642H of theantenna port 1612-j. Similarly, different ports of the MPA antennaradiate dual directional beams but in substantially different directionsthan from other MPA antenna ports. Finally, RF signals 1605 coupled totwo different ports 1612-j of the MPA antenna 1610 are simultaneouslyradiated by the MPA antenna according to the dual directional beams1642H, 1642V of each port to which the RF signals are coupled. Forexample, RF signals 1605 coupled to antenna feed 1634-(1,1) and1634-(2,1) of antenna port 1612-1, and RF signals 1605 coupled toantenna feed 1634-(3,2) and 1634-(4,2) of antenna port 1612-2 will besimultaneously radiated according to beam 1642H-1 (port1612-1—horizontal polarization), beam 1642V-2 (port 1612-1—verticalpolarization), beam 1642H-3 (port 1612-2—horizontal polarization), andbeam 1642V-4 (port 1612-2—vertical polarization), respectively.

FIG. 17 is a diagram of an embodiment of an MPA antenna 1710 comprisinga planar array 1750 of printed circuit dual linear polarization planarantenna elements. An example of a printed circuit dual linearpolarization planar antenna element of the planar array 1750 is the duallinear polarization microstrip patch antenna 514 fabricated on a PCB 511described above in connection with FIG. 5A. The MPA antenna 1710 furthercomprises an MPA feeding network 1760. The MPA feeding network 1760comprises a horizontal polarization feeding network 1760H and a verticalpolarization feeding network 1760V.

The number of planar antenna elements of the planar array 1750 isconfigured to be greater than or equal to the number of MPA antennaports 1612-1, . . . , 1612-N and their arrangement is arbitrary. Theplanar antenna elements of the planar array 1750 can be homogeneous orheterogeneous.

Each planar antenna element of the planar array 1750 comprises twoseparate antenna feeds e.g., 534H, 534V, to excite the radiatingstructure such that the single planar antenna element, e.g., 514, cansimultaneously radiate RF signals 1605 coupled to the different antennafeeds 534H, 534V with substantially similar radiation patterns but withorthogonal polarization. We therefore refer to the two antenna elementfeeds as the vertical polarization antenna element feed 534V andhorizontal polarization antenna element feed 534H. Preferably all planarantenna elements of the planar array 1750 are fabricated on a singlePCB. Furthermore, the planar antenna elements of the planar array 1750can be designed to have a low reflection coefficient in the operatingfrequency band of the radio and a high reflection coefficient outsidethe band.

The horizontal, respectively vertical, polarization feeding network1760H, 1760V comprises N antenna feeds inputs and means to couple theMPA antenna feeds 1734H, 1734V to the horizontal, respectively vertical,polarization antenna feed 534H, 534V of at least two planar antennaelements, e.g., 514, feeds of the planar array 1750. The horizontal,respectively vertical, polarization feeding network 1760H, 1760Hcomprises RF circuits and devices such as, without limitations,transmission lines, hybrid couplers, power dividing/combining elements,phase shifters, delay lines, attenuators, amplifiers, and switchingelements. The horizontal, respectively vertical, polarization feedingnetwork 1760H, 1760H and the planar array 1750 of printed circuit duallinear polarization planar antenna elements are designed and arrangedsuch that: (1) RF signals 1605 coupled to an antenna feed of thehorizontal, respectively vertical, polarization feeding network 1760H,1760H are radiated according to horizontally, respectively vertically,polarized directional beams 1642H, 1642V radiating with a givenelevation and azimuth beamwidth, a given gain and a given direction; (2)for each MPA antenna feed 1734H of the horizontal polarization feedingnetwork 1760H there is one and only one MPA antenna feed 1734V of thevertical polarization feeding network 1760V that radiates a beam insubstantially the same direction but with orthogonal polarization. Thesetwo corresponding MPA antenna feeds 1734H, 1734V constitute a MPAantenna port 1612-j, where j=1 . . . N; (3) RF signals 1605 coupled todifferent antenna feeds 1734H, 1734V of the horizontal, respectivelyvertical, polarization feeding network 1760H, 1760V are radiatedaccording to horizontally, respectively vertically, polarizeddirectional beams 1642H, 1642V in substantially different directions;and (4) different RF signals 1605 coupled to at least two different MPAantenna feeds 1734H, 1734V of the horizontal, respectively vertical,polarization feeding network 1760H, 1760V are simultaneously radiated bythe MPA antenna 1710 according to the directional beams of each MPAantenna port 1612-j.

Optionally, if the number of MPA antenna ports 1612-j is greater thanhalf the number of RF chains of the radio, or equivalently the number ofMPA antenna feeds is greater than the number of RF chains of a radiocoupled with the MPA antenna system that includes the MPA antenna 1710,the MPA antenna system interface matrix can provide means to selectivelyinterconnect the different RF chains of the radio to one or more MPAantenna feeds 1734H, 1734V. The interface matrix can further includemeans to dynamically and alternatively configure the interconnections.Furthermore, the interface matrix can be configured to allow each RFchain to be coupled to none, one or multiple antenna feeds 1734H, 1734Vof the MPA antenna system. The state of the switching elements isconfigured via the interface matrix control signals. The interfacematrix can also include inline RF filters to further reject signalsoutside the radio's operating frequency band.

By appropriately designing the horizontal polarization and verticalpolarization feeding networks 1760H, 1760V, the arrangement of duallinear polarization antenna elements in the planar array 1750, andselectively interconnecting RF chains of the radio to the antenna feeds1734H, 1734V of the MPA antenna 1710, it is possible to achieve all theintended features of an MPA antenna system, including controlling thedirectional coverage area of the radio with the same MPA antenna system.

FIG. 18 is a diagram of an MPA antenna 1810 similar to the MPA antenna1710 illustrated in FIG. 17. In the MPA antenna 1810, the horizontalpolarization feeding network 1760H and vertical feeding network 1760V ofthe MPA antenna 1710 are logically divided into a horizontal,respectively vertical, polarization multiple input multiple output(MIMO) feeding network 1862H, 1862V, multiple horizontal, respectivelyvertical, polarization interconnection feeding networks 1864H, 1864V,and multiple horizontal, respectively vertical, polarization row feedingnetworks 1866H, 1866V. Further, the planar printed circuit dual linearpolarization antenna elements in the planar array 1750 of the MPAantenna 1710 are divided into planar sub-arrays 1852, where eachsub-array can comprise arbitrary and different number of planar printedcircuit dual linear polarization antenna elements (e.g., each antennaelement implemented like 514). For the sake of clarity but withoutlimitations, in the following we will assume that the number of planarprinted circuit dual linear polarization antenna elements is the same inall sub-arrays 1852.

We will now describe the arrangement of the different logical elementsof the MPA antenna 1810. For each sub-array 1852 of planar printedcircuit dual linear polarization antenna elements, there is a firstfeeding network interconnected to the horizontal polarization antennaelement feeds 534H of the planar antenna elements called feeding networkthe horizontal polarization row feeding network 1866H. For eachsub-array 1852 of planar printed circuit dual linear polarizationantenna elements, there is also a second feeding network interconnectedto the vertical polarization antenna element feeds 534V of the planarantenna elements called feeding network the vertical polarization rowfeeding network 1866V. The horizontal polarization and verticalpolarization row feeding network 1866H, 1866V are designed to producebeams in a substantially similar direction with substantially similarbeamwidth and side lobe levels.

The horizontal, respectively vertical, polarization row feeding network1866H, 1866V comprises RF circuits and devices such as, withoutlimitations, transmission lines, hybrid couplers, powerdividing/combining elements, phase shifters, delay lines, attenuators,amplifiers, and switching elements. FIG. 19 is a diagram of a sub-array1952 of planar printed circuit dual linear polarization antenna elementswhich comprises four patch antennas 514 arranged in a linear horizontalrow and the horizontal polarization row feeding network 1966H andvertical polarization row feeding network 1966V coupled to the sub-array1952. The horizontal, respectively vertical, row feeding network 1966H,1966V distributes their respective input signal from the interconnectionfeeding networks 1864H, 1864V to the horizontal, respectively vertical,antenna element feeds 534H, 534V using a corporate feeding network. Thetransmission line lengths and impedance of the horizontal, respectivelyvertical, polarization row feeding network 1966H, 1966V are designed toachieve a phase and amplitude distribution of the RF signals at theantenna element feeds 534H, 534V, and together with the patch antennaelement 514's design and inter-element spacing to achieve the desiredradiation pattern (beam direction, beamwidth, side lobe levels, etc.) inthe horizontal (azimuth) cut. Furthermore, the design is such that RFsignals from 1864V coupled to a vertical polarization row feedingnetwork 1966V are radiated with substantially similar radiation patternsbut with orthogonal polarization as RF signals from 1864H coupled to ahorizontal polarization row feeding network 1966H. Generally, but notnecessarily, all sub-arrays 1852 of planar printed circuit dual linearpolarization antenna elements and their vertical and horizontalpolarization row feeding networks 1866H, 1866V are designed to achievesimilar radiation patterns.

For the sake clarity, but without limitations, we will assume that, inthe MPA antenna 1810, the planar printed circuit dual linearpolarization antenna elements are arranged into equally spaced identicalsub-array rows, each sub-array row 1852 consisting of a lineararrangement of equally spaced planar printed circuit dual linearpolarization antenna elements 514. Further, the vertical polarizationand horizontal polarization row feeding networks 1866H, 1866V aredesigned to produce beams in the broadside direction with similarhorizontal (azimuth) beamwidth, side lobe levels and gain.

Referring again to FIG. 18, the function of a horizontal, respectivelyvertical, polarization interconnection feeding network 1864H, 1864V isto distribute the RF signal from one output of the horizontal,respectively vertical, polarization MIMO feeding network 1862H, 1862V tothe input of one or more horizontal, respectively vertical, polarizationrow feeding networks 1866H, 1866V. The horizontal, respectivelyvertical, polarization interconnection feeding network 1864H, 1864Vcomprises RF circuits and devices such as, without limitations,transmission lines, hybrid couplers, power dividing/combining elements,phase shifters, delay lines, attenuators, amplifiers, and switchingelements. FIG. 20 is a diagram of an interconnection feeding network2064 to distribute an RF signal from one output of the MIMO feedingnetwork 1862H, 1862V to inputs of four row feeding networks 2066 using acorporate feeding network 2058. FIG. 21 is a diagram of anotherinterconnection feeding network 2164 distributing a RF signal from oneoutput of the MIMO feeding network 1862 to an input of one row feedingnetwork 2166.

The interconnection feeding networks 2064, 2164 are designed to providea signal amplitude and phase distribution at the input of the rowfeeding networks 2066, 2166, respectively, to achieve the desiredradiation patterns in the vertical (elevation) cut. For example, andwithout limitations, different attenuators 2061 can be used to controlthe radiation pattern side lobe levels or different delays 2063 can beused to steer the radiation pattern of all rows or a subset of row in agiven direction. Referring again to FIG. 18, the horizontal polarizationand vertical polarization interconnection networks 1864H, 1864Vconnected to corresponding outputs of the vertical polarization andhorizontal polarization MIMO feeding networks 1862H, 1862V should bedesigned to achieve similar amplitude and phase distribution of the RFsignal at the input of the horizontal polarization and verticalpolarization row feeding networks 1866H, 1866V of the same sub-arrays1852 of planar printed circuit dual linear polarization antennaelements.

Unlike the interconnection networks 1864H, 1864V and row feedingnetworks 1866H, 1866V, the MIMO feeding networks 1862H, 1862V havemultiple inputs that can be simultaneously excited and multiple outputs.The vertical polarization and horizontal polarization MIMO feedingnetworks 1862H, 1862V therefore are the core components of the feedingnetworks 1760H, 1760V to enable the simultaneous transmission ofmultiple signals in different directions and the reconfigurability ofthe radio coverage area.

To enable those features, the MIMO feeding networks 1862H, 1862V musthave the following three properties: (1) for each input of a MIMOfeeding network 1862H, 1862V, a different RF signal amplitude and phasedistribution must be achieved at the output of the MIMO feeding network1862H, 1862V; (2) for each input of the vertical polarization MIMOfeeding network 1862V there is a corresponding input of the horizontalpolarization MIMO feeding network 1862H achieving the same RF signalamplitude and phase distribution at its outputs (the outputs of thevertical polarization and horizontal polarization MIMO feeding networks1862H, 1862V with same amplitude and phase are denoted as correspondingoutputs); and (3) when multiple inputs of the MIMO feeding network1862H, 1862V are excited, the MIMO feeding network outputs shouldconsist of the superposition of the RF signals resulting from theindividual excitation of the inputs. The inputs of the verticalpolarization and horizontal polarization MIMO feeding networks 1862H,1862V are the MPA antenna feeds 1734H, 1734V, and the verticalpolarization and horizontal polarization MPA antenna feeds 1734H, 1734Vachieving the same RF signal amplitude and phase distribution at thevertical polarization and horizontal polarization MIMO feeding networksoutputs are together an MPA antenna port 1612.

When the above MIMO feeding network 1862H, 1862V properties areachieved, together with the properties of the vertical polarization andhorizontal polarization interconnection feeding networks 1864H, 1864V,and of the vertical polarization and horizontal polarization row feedingnetworks 1866H, 1866V, in the result: (1) RF signals from the multi RFchains radio coupled to corresponding MPA antenna feeds 1734H, 1734Vwill radiate with substantially similar directional radiation patternsbut with orthogonal polarization; (2) RF signals from the multi RFchains radio coupled to different MPA antenna ports 1712 willsimultaneously radiate in different directions; and (3) by changing theMPA antenna port 1712 to which RF signals from the multi RF chain radioare coupled or disconnecting one or more RF signals from all antennaports 1712-1, . . . , 1712-N, it is possible to change the multiRF-chain radio type-2 coverage area (note that in some cases, as will bediscussed below, the interconnection networks 1864H, 1864V must beheterogeneous to achieve different directions for different input ports1712).

FIG. 22 is a diagram of an MPA antenna system 2200 that includes an MPAantenna 2210 for which each of the MIMO feeding networks 2262H, 2262V isimplemented as a pass-through feeding network. A pass-through feedingnetwork 2262H, 2262V directly interconnects one input to one output(i.e., it has an identity matrix transfer function), thus it meets theabove-noted three required properties of a MIMO feeding network.However, in order to achieve different beam directions for RF signalscoupled to different MPA antenna ports, different interconnectionfeeding networks 2064H-j, 2064V-j are designed such that the signalradiates in different directions, where j=1 . . . N. For example,assuming, as shown in FIG. 22, four rows 1952-i of dual linearpolarization patch antenna elements (e.g., 514) spaced about half awavelength apart, e.g., between 0.4λ and 0.6λ, where, i=1 . . . 4, theradiation pattern will have a beamwidth of approximately 30 degrees inthe vertical (elevation) cut. Note that each row 1952-i of dual linearpolarization patch antenna elements is connected to the correspondinginterconnection feeding network 2064H-j, 2064V-j through respectivehorizontal or vertical polarization row feeding network 1966H-i,1966V-i.

Assuming two interconnections feeding networks 2064H-j, 2064V-j, (i.e.,j=1 . . . N, where N=2), the first horizontal polarizationinterconnection network 2064H-1 and first vertical polarizationinterconnection network 2064V-1 are designed with transmission linedelays such that the radiation pattern has a maximum at a 10 degreeangle in the vertical cut, and the second horizontal polarizationinterconnection network 2064H-2 and second vertical polarizationinterconnection network 2064V-2 are designed with transmission linedelays such that the radiation pattern has a maximum at a −10 degreeangle in the vertical cut. As shown in FIG. 22, the MPA antenna system2200's interface matrix is divided into a horizontal interface matrix2220H and a vertical interface matrix 2220V.

Assuming, without limitations, a radio with four RF chains 2232-1, . . ., 2232-4, the first two RF chains 2232-1, 2232-2 are connected to thehorizontal interface matrix 2220H and the second two RF chains 2232-3,2232-4 are connected to the vertical interface matrix 2220V. For Ngreater than 2, the radio coverage can be changed by selectivelyinterconnecting the first and second RF chains 2232-1, 2232-2 in thehorizontal interface matrix 2220H to two different horizontal antennafeeds 2234H-1, 2234H-2 of the MPA antenna 2210 and by selectivelyinterconnecting the third and fourth RF chains 2232-3, 2232-4 in thevertical interface matrix 2220V to the corresponding vertical antennafeeds 2234V-1, 2234V-2 of the MPA antenna 2210. The radio coverage canalso be changed by selectively disconnecting either the first and secondRF chains 2232-1, 2232-2 or the third and fourth RF chains 2232-3,2232-4 from any antenna feeds 2234H-j, 2234V-j, where j=1,2. The MPAantenna system 2200 illustrated in FIG. 22 can be generalized for anarbitrary number of RF chains 2232 and number of rows of antennaelements per interconnection feeding network 2064H-j, 2064V-j.

However, other MPA antenna systems can be implemented to moreefficiently use the rows 1952-j of antenna elements to produce thenarrowest beamwidth possible. For example, with eight rows 1952-j ofantenna elements, where j=1 . . . 8, one can achieve a beamwidth ofapproximately 15 degree versus approximately 30 degree with thearchitecture illustrated in FIG. 22 where j=4. FIG. 23 is diagram of aMIMO feeding network 2362 implemented as a 90-degree hybrid coupler,which is more efficient than the MIMO feeding network 2262H, 2262V. In a90-degree hybrid coupler 2362, the RF signal at port 2312-1 will bedistributed with 90-degree phase difference at the output port 2312-3and 2312-4 and will vanish at the other input port 2312-1. Similarly,the RF signal at port 2312-2 will be distributed with an inverted90-degree phase difference at the output port 2312-3 and 2312-4 and willcancel at the input port 2312-1.

An important fact that we take advantage in this disclosure is thatbecause RF signals vanishes at the other input port, if two different RFsignals are simultaneously coupled to the two input ports, they willsuperpose at the output ports with the respective phase shift associatedto their respective input port. Therefore, a horizontal, respectivelyvertical, MIMO feeding network realized using the 90-degree hybridcoupler meets the three required properties of the MIMO feedingnetworks.

FIG. 24 is a diagram of an MPA antenna system 2400 that includes ahorizontal interface matrix 2420H, a vertical interface matrix 2420V,and an MPA antenna 2410. The MPA antenna 2410 includes 90°-hybridcoupler MIMO feeding networks 2362H, 2362V, and two verticalinterconnection feeding networks 2064V-1, 2064V-2 and two horizontalinterconnection feeding networks 2064H-1, 2064H-2, each coupled to fourrows 1952-j of antenna elements, where j=1 . . . 4. Note that each row1952-i of dual linear polarization patch antenna elements is connectedto the corresponding interconnection feeding network 2064H-j, 2064V-jthrough respective horizontal or vertical polarization row feedingnetwork 1966H-i, 1966V-i. Here, each RF signal coupled to an MPA antennafeed 2234H, 2234V is distributed to all rows 1952-j antenna elements andtherefore benefits from the full array aperture to achieve the narrowestbeamwidth in the vertical (elevation) cut. Also, unlike the case withpass-through feeding network 2262H, 2262V, even if the interconnectionfeeding networks 2064H-1, 2064H-2, 2064V-1, 2064V-2 are identical, thebeam directions for a different MPA antenna port are different becausethe phase distribution at the output of the 90-degree hybrid couplerMIMO feeding network 2362H or 2362V is different for different inputports.

Therefore, with this structure of the MPA antenna system 2400, RFsignals coupled to corresponding MIMO feeding networks inputs (i.e.,corresponding MPA antenna feeds 2234H, 2234V) will radiate with samedirectional radiation pattern but with orthogonal polarization andsignals coupled to different MPA antenna ports will simultaneouslyradiate in different directions. However, in the case of a radio withfour active RF chains 2232-1, 2232-2, 2232-3, 2232-4, it is not possibleto change the radio coverage area since each 90-degree hybrid coupler2362H, 2362V has only two inputs. An approach to overcome this problemis to use a hybrid between the 90-degree hybrid coupler 2362 and apass-through matrix 2262 where there are several instantiations of the90-degree hybrid coupler 2362, each connected to different pairs ofinterconnection feeding networks 2064H-j, 2064V-j, each pair ofinterconnection feeding networks designed to radiate in differentdirections. The MPA antenna system 2400 illustrated in FIG. 24 can begeneralized for an arbitrary number of RF chains 2232 and number of rows1952 of antenna elements per interconnection feeding network 2064H,2064V.

To more efficiently overcome the problem of providing flexible coverage,we disclose an approach where the MIMO feeding networks is realized byextending the concept of the 90-degree hybrid coupler 2362 to a Butlermatrix like the Butler matrices disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,255,450 A.FIG. 25 is a diagram of an 8×8 Butler matrix 2562. An RF signal coupledto an input port 2501 of the Butler matrix 2562 will be distributed tothe Butler matrix output ports 2502 with a phase distribution differentfor each Butler matrix input port 2501.

Assuming the Butler matrix output ports 2502 are interconnected withequal delay transmission lines to identical antennas (e.g., 514 or 1952)equally spaced half a wavelength apart, e.g., between 0.4λ and 0.6λ, thephase distribution at the output ports 2502 of the 8×8 Butler matrix2562 is such that RF signals at each Butler matrix input port 2501 areradiated according to the beams 2642-1 . . . , 2642-8 illustrated inFIG. 26. Referring again to FIG. 25, the Butler matrix 2562 ishierarchically built with 90-degree hybrid couplers 2362 and thusretains the 90-degree hybrid couple input port isolation property. Thatis, an RF signal coupled to a Butler matrix input port 2501 will cancelat all other Butler matrix input ports 2501, and RF signals coupled todifferent Butler matrix input ports 2501 will superpose at the Butlermatrix output ports 2502 with the respective phase shifts associated totheir Butler matrix input port 2501.

For example, assuming that the output ports 2502 are interconnected withequal delay transmission lines to identical antennas (e.g., 514 or 1952)equally spaced-half a wavelength apart, e.g., between 0.4λ and 0.6λ, aRF signal coupled to the 8×8 Butler matrix input port 2501-4 willradiate with a beam 2642-4 in a direction at 7 degree (with anapproximate 15 degree beamwidth), and a RF signal simultaneously coupledto the 8×8 Butler matrix input port 2501-5 will simultaneously radiatewith a beam 2642-5 in a direction at −7 degree (with an approximate 15degree beamwidth). Therefore, a horizontal, respectively vertical, MIMOfeeding network realized with the Butler matrix 2562 meets the threerequired properties of the MIMO feeding networks.

FIG. 27 is a diagram of an MPA antenna system 2700 which includes ahorizontal interface matrix 2720H, a vertical interface matrix 2720V,and an MPA antenna 2710. The MPA antenna 2710 includes a horizontalpolarization Butler matrix 2562H and a vertical polarization Butlermatrix 2562V, eight horizontal polarization interconnection feedingnetworks 2164H-j and eight vertical polarization interconnection feedingnetworks 2164V-j, eight sub-arrays 1952-j (also referred to as rows) ofdual linear polarization antenna elements (e.g., 514) and correspondinghorizontal polarization row feeding networks 1966H-j and verticalpolarization row feeding networks 1966V-j, where j=1 . . . 8. In the MPAantenna, each Butler matrix output is coupled to a single row feedingnetwork 1966H-j, 1966V-j using a single input single outputinterconnection network 2164H-j, 2164V-j illustrated in FIG. 21. A RFsignal coupled to an MPA antenna feed 2734H-j, 2734V-j is thereforedistributed to all rows 1952-j of antenna elements and thereforebenefits from the full array aperture to achieve the narrowest beamwidthin the vertical (elevation) cut. Furthermore, the MPA antenna 2710 hassufficient antenna ports such that for a radio with four RF chains2232-1, . . . , 2232-4, the radio coverage can be dynamically changed bychanging the interconnection state of the MPA antenna system interfacematrix comprising a horizontal interface matrix 2720H and a verticalinterface matrix 2720V to selectively interconnect or disconnect the RFchains 2232-1, . . . , 2232-4 to different inputs of the Butler matrices2562H, 2562V.

To maintain the overlapping coverage for both MPA antenna feeds 2734H-j,2734V-j of an MPA input port, both the horizontal polarization andvertical polarization Butler matrix 2562H, 2562V are identical, theircorresponding output ports are connected by identical horizontalpolarization and vertical polarization interconnection networks 2164H-j,2164V-j to identical horizontal and vertical row feeding networks1966H-j, 1966V-j interconnected to the same sub-array 1952-j of duallinear polarization antenna elements (e.g., 514). Furthermore, the RFchains 2232-1, . . . , 2232-4 coupled to the horizontal and verticalinterface matrix 2720H, 2720V should be interconnected to thecorresponding horizontal and vertical MPA antenna feeds 2734H-j,2734V-j. Note that the different horizontal, respectively vertical,interconnection networks 2164H-j, 2164V-j do not need to be identical.For example, different attenuators can be used to achieve better controlof the side lobe levels in the vertical (elevation) cut. Thearchitecture of the MPA antenna system 2700 illustrated in FIG. 27 canbe generalized for an arbitrary number of RF chains 2232 and number ofrows 1952 of antenna elements per interconnection feeding network 2164H,2164V.

Because of all its properties, the MPA antenna system 2700 illustratedin FIG. 27 is a preferred embodiment of an MPA antenna system thatincludes an interface matrix and an MPA antenna like the one shown ineither FIG. 17 or FIG. 18. The disclosed utilization of the Butlermatrix 2562H, 2562V included in the MPA antenna system 2700 differs fromprevious utilizations of a Butler matrix in several manners. First,different input ports of each of the two Butler matrices 2562H, 2562Vcan be interconnected to different RF chains 2232 from the same radio,where each of the RF chains can transmit correlated or uncorrelated datasignals. Second, the two Butler matrices 2562H, 2562V are simultaneouslyused to feed signals to different antenna feeds of the dual linearpolarization antenna elements (e.g., 514) in the planar array 1750 ofprinted circuit dual linear polarization antenna elements. Third, theinterconnections between the Butler matrices 2562H, 2562V and RF chains2232 is done through two different interface matrices 2720H, 2720V whichare configured in coordination to always emanate everywhere in thecoverage area of the radio, two RF signals on different beams withorthogonal polarization.

Therefore, a unique advantage of the disclosed MPA antenna system 2700is that it enables the simultaneous utilization of all elements (e.g.,514) in a planar array 1750 of printed circuit dual linear polarizationantenna elements to transmit/receive signal from/to at least four RFchains 2232-1, . . . , 2232-4 from a single radio with multiple RFchains and to use an interface matrix 2720H, 2720V to reconfigure theachieved coverage area of the radio. This is particularly important toefficiently support MIMO and MU-MIMO radios with or without the abilityto reconfigure coverage.

In a particular arrangement all components of the MPA antenna system2700 comprising the MPA antenna 2710 (feedings networks 2562H, 2562V,2164H-j, 2164V-j, 1966H-j, 1966V-j and antenna elements 1952-j) and thevertical and horizontal interface matrices 2720H, 2720V, excludingcables, are fabricated on a single PCB. The PCB can be single sided ordouble sided.

Variants and combinations of the above arrangements can be used toachieve the same properties of the MPA antenna 2710 for different numberof inputs, antenna elements, and level of coverage reconfigurability. Inparticular, it can be readily recognized that the above arrangements canbe used with radios with more than four RF chains 2232-1, . . . ,2232-4. For example, and without limitations, the MPA antenna system2700 with 8×8 Butler matrix 2562H, 2562V, can be interconnected with aradio with 8 RF chains and simultaneously radiate signals in fourdifferent directions with orthogonal polarization, and further offerreconfigurability of the radio coverage area.

By employing the MPA antenna system 2200, 2400, 2700, a multitude ofbenefits and features result for its use: (1) it is possible to designarbitrary narrow directional beams with accurate side lobe level controlin both horizontal (azimuth) cut and vertical (elevation) cut tominimize interference to adjacent wireless network devices and clientdevices using the same channel; (2) the reconfigurable interfacematrices 2220H, 2220V or 2420H, 2420V or 2720H, 2720V enable one todynamically and alternatively change the coverage of a radio withmultiple RF chains, including profile, direction and width. This is animportant feature to dynamically provide good signal coverage in UHDtype-2 coverage scenarios while limiting interference in dense networkdeployment; (3) everywhere in the coverage area of the radio, there arealways two signals emanating on different beams with orthogonalpolarization. This is a desired feature to provide efficient MIMOcommunication links with two spatial streams; (4) different RF signalsfrom the radio with multiple RF chains coupled to different ports areradiated in different directions (e.g., for a radio with four RF chains2232-1, . . . , 2232-4, two RF signals coupled to a first port butdifferent antenna feeds 2734H-j, 2734V-j will radiate with beams in thesame direction but with orthogonal polarization and two other RF signalscoupled to a different second port but different antenna feeds 2234H-j,2234V-j or 2734H-j, 2734V-j will radiate with beams in the directiondifferent from the first two RF signals but with orthogonalpolarization). This provides additional signal discrimination thatfurther enhances the performance of MU-MIMO communications; (5) by usingan arrangement based on hybrid couplers, one can effectively reuse theantenna elements 1952-j to generate multiple directional beams andmaximize the available area for antenna elements to generate beams withthe narrowest beamwidth and (6) the geometry and signal rejectionproperties of the MPA antennas 2210, 2410, 2710 enable, as discussedbelow, the efficient realization of a multi-radio antenna system. Onecan thus appreciate the multiple significant benefits provided by thedisclosed MPA antenna system 2200, 2400, 2700 over presentstate-of-the-art antenna systems employed in wireless network devices.

For the second step of the second approach, we will now integratemultiple MPA antennas (e.g., 2210, 2410, 2710) and an interface matrixinto a multi-radio MPA (MR-MPA) antennas system for MR-WND toefficiently resolve the problem of providing efficient MIMO and MU-MIMOcommunications concurrently with multiple radios in UHD environmentswhere high antenna gain and directivity are required.

We first consider some examples of MPA antenna systems that could beintegrated together to realize a MR-MPA antenna system for a MR-WND.FIG. 28 is a diagram of an example of a 4×8 MPA antenna system 2800implemented as the MPA antenna system 2200 in which the 4×8 MPA antenna2210 has N=1 horizontal, respectively vertical, interconnection feedingnetwork 2064H, 2064V (note that in this case the 4×8 MPA antenna has asingle port) both interconnected to eight rows 2252-j of four lineararrays of dual linear polarization patch antenna elements (e.g., 514)with half wavelength inter antenna element spacing, e.g., between 0.4λand 0.6λ, and vertical, respectively horizontal, row feeding networks1966H-j, 1966V-j, where j=1 . . . 8. Here, the vertical, respectivelyhorizontal, row feeding networks 1966H-j, 1966V-j, and the vertical,respectively horizontal, interconnection feeding networks 2064H, 2064Vare designed to provide a broadside radiation pattern withapproximatively 30 degree horizontal (azimuth) beamwidth and 15 degreevertical (elevation) beamwidth. In this manner, a single 4×8 MPA antennaconnected to a radio chain 2232-1, 2232-2 can provide dual orthogonalbeams 2842H, 2842V of substantially similar pattern in a desireddirection, enabling a single 4×8 MPA antenna to send and receive twodiscrete RF signals at the same frequency.

Furthermore, by appropriately designing the horizontal polarization andvertical polarization interconnection 2064H, 2064V and row feedingnetworks 1966H, 1966V of, and the arrangement of dual linearpolarization antenna elements in the planar array 2252, the MPA antennasystem 2800 provides means to radiate two RF signals with orthogonalpolarization everywhere in the intended coverage zone of the radio andsaid radiation pattern of the array antenna can be designed to havearbitrary beamwidth and side lobe levels.

FIG. 29 is a diagram of an example of a 4×8 MPA antenna system 2900implemented as the MPA antenna system 2200 in which the 4×8 MPA antenna2210 has N=2 horizontal, respectively vertical, interconnection feedingnetworks 2064H-1, 2064H-2, 2064V-1, 2064V-2, all interconnected to fourrows 2252-j of four linear arrays of dual linear polarization patchantenna elements (e.g., 514) with half wavelength inter element spacingbetween antenna elements and rows of a sub-array antenna, e.g., between0.4λ and 0.6, where j=1 . . . 4. In the example illustrated in FIG. 29,the vertical, respectively horizontal, row feeding networks 1966H-j,1966V-j and vertical, respectively horizontal, interconnection feedingnetworks 2064H-j, 2064V-j of the first sub-array antenna has beendesigned to provide a radiation pattern with approximatively 30 degreehorizontal (azimuth) beamwidth and 30 degree vertical (elevation)beamwidth with a maximum gain at 10 degree in elevation and broadside inazimuth, and the vertical, respectively horizontal, row feeding networks1966H-j, 1966V-j and vertical, respectively horizontal, interconnectionfeeding networks 2064H-j, 2064V-j of the second sub-array antenna aredesigned to provide a radiation pattern with approximatively 30 degreehorizontal (azimuth) beamwidth and 30 degree vertical (elevation)beamwidth with a maximum gain at −10 degree in elevation and broadsidein azimuth. In this manner, the 4×8 MPA antenna of the 4×8 MPA antennasystem 2900 connected to radio chains 2232-1, . . . , 2232-4 can radiatebeams 2942H-1, 2942V-1 and 2842H-2, 2842V-2 with different directionsand/or beamwidth, enabling the 4×8 MPA antenna of the 4×8 MPA antennasystem 2900 to send and receive four discrete RF signals at the samefrequency. By appropriately designing the horizontal polarization andvertical polarization interconnection 2064H-j, 2064V-j and row feedingnetworks 1966H-j, 1966V-j of the sub-arrays, and the arrangement of duallinear polarization antenna elements in the planar sub-arrays, the 4×8MPA antenna system 2900 provide means to radiate multiple RF signalswith orthogonal polarization everywhere in the intended coverage zone ofthe radio and said radiation pattern of the array antenna can bedesigned to have arbitrary beamwidth and side lobe levels. Furthermore,if the number of sub-array antennas exceed half the number of RF chains2232-1, . . . , 2232-4, it then becomes possible to use switchingelements and/or power dividing/combining elements in the interfacematrix of the MPA antenna system 2900 to selectively route and connector disconnect the RF chains 2232-1, . . . , 2232-4 to each of thesub-array antenna feeds and dynamically reconfigure the radio coverage.

FIG. 30 is a diagram of an example of a 4×8 MPA antenna system 3000implemented as the MPA antenna system 2700 in which the 4×8 MPA antenna2710 has eight rows of linear arrays 2252-j, where j=1 . . . 8, whereeach row consists of a linear array of four dual linear polarizationpatch antenna elements with half wavelength inter element spacingbetween antennas elements, e.g., between 0.4λ and 0.6λ. In the exampleillustrated in FIG. 30, the vertical, respectively horizontal, rowfeeding networks 1966H-j, 1966V-j and the Butler matrices 2562H, 2562Vhave been designed to provide a radiation pattern with approximately 30degree horizontal (azimuth) beamwidth and 15 degree vertical (elevation)beamwidth with a maximum gain at broadside in azimuth and at differentelevation angles depending on the excited port of the Butler matrix2562H, 2562V.

The Butler matrix based 4×8 MPA antenna system 3000 provides means toradiate, with multiple beams 3042H-1, 3042V-1, . . . , 3042H-8, 3042V-8in multiple directions, multiple RF signals with orthogonal polarizationeverywhere in the intended coverage zone of the radio and said radiationpattern of the array antenna can be designed to have arbitrary beamwidthand side lobe levels. Furthermore, when the number of input ports of theButler matrix exceeds half the number of RF chains 2232-1, . . . ,2232-4, it then becomes possible to use switching elements and/or powerdividing/combining elements in the interface matrix of the MPA antennasystem 3000 to selectively route and connect or disconnect the RF chains2232-1, . . . , 2232-4 to each of the Butler matrix antenna feeds anddynamically reconfigure the radio coverage area, including its directionand width.

We further recognize herein the several characteristics possessed by theMPA antennas 1610, 1710, 2210, 2410, 2710 that are critical for amultiple radio antenna system implementation in a MR-WND and can also beexploited to provide additional benefits. First, the planar nature ofthe MPA antenna 1610, 1710, 2210, 2410, 2710 makes it amenable tointegrate multiple MPA antennas in a single planar enclosure. Second,the MPA antenna signal rejection properties, the MPA antenna radiationpattern directionality, the interface matrix (when it comprises RFfilters) signal rejection properties, and the flexibility of thegeometric arrangement of the MPA antennas 1610, 1710, 2210, 2410, 2710can be exploited in combination to enhance the isolation between RFsignals from different radios to more efficiently support simultaneousoperations of these radios. Finally, the possibility to reconfigure, viaan interface matrix 2220H/V, 2420H/V, 2720H/V, the coverage realized bya MPA antenna 2210, 2410, 2710 and the possibility to integratedifferent MPA antennas 1610, 1710, 2210, 2410, 2710 with different beamprofiles (direction and/or beamwidth) can be exploited to offer newlevel of flexibilities for design and operation of wireless networks.

FIG. 31 is a diagram of an example of MR-MPA antenna system 3100Mintegrating three MPA antenna systems 3100-1, 3100-2, 3100-3 in anenclosure 3182. In this case, each MPA antenna system 3100-1, 3100-2,3100-3 includes an associated MPA antenna and a subset of the associatedinterface matrix (sub interface matrix, e.g., 2220H/V, 2420H/V, 2720H/V)and is realized on separate PCBs 3111-1, 3111-2, 3111-3. FIG. 32 is adiagram of an example of MR-MPA antenna system 3200M integrating threeMPA antenna systems 3200-1, 3200-2, 3200-3 in an enclosure 3282. In thiscase, each MPA antenna system 3200-1, 3200-2, 3200-3 includes anassociated MPA antenna and a subset of the associated interface matrix(sub interface matrix, e.g., 2220H/V, 2420H/V, 2720H/V) and is realizedon separate PCBs 3211-1, 3211-2, 3211-3 Note that in those examples, theMR-WND 201's interface matrix 220 is distributed on multiple components3100-1, 3100-2, 3100-3 or 3200-1, 3200-2, 3200-3 of the device andfurther comprises cables between the multiple radios and the connectorson the PCB 3111-j, 3211-j of the associated MPA antenna system 3100-j,3200-j, where j=1 . . . 3. Further, the MR-WND 201 may comprise multipleenclosures interconnected with cables but at least one enclosure mustcomprise at least two MPA antenna systems 3100-j, 3200-j. Due to theplanar nature of the MPA antennas of the MPA antenna systems 3100-j,3200-j, the antenna enclosure 3182, 3282's height can be made small.Also, the ability of having multiple MPA antenna systems 3100-j, 3200-jin a single enclosure 3182, 3282 decreases the number of mounting pointsrequired for MR-WND 201. Note that if the entire multi-radio wirelessnetwork device 201 is integrated in the same enclosure 3182 or 3282 asthe antenna systems 3100-j, 3200-j, a single mounting location isrequired for the entire MR-WND 201 and external cables are eliminated.All those aspects improve the MR-WND aesthetic properties andinstallation costs. The MR-MPA antenna system 3100M, 3200M can eitheremploy homogeneous MPA antennas (where all MPA antennas have similarbeam profile properties) and heterogeneous MPA antennas (where at leastsome MPA array antennas have different beam profile properties).

To enable simultaneous radio operation of the multiple different radios,is it critical to maintain high isolation between RF signals from thedifferent radios. As indicated before, the first step to ensure thatthere is sufficient isolation is to configure the radios requiringsimultaneous operation such that they transmit and receive RF signals inRF channels in substantially non-overlapping RF bands. We then use thefollowing tools individually or in different combinations to furtherprovide isolation. Those extra isolation tools enable simultaneousoperation of radios even in adjacent frequency band. This is useful tomaximize the capacity of restricted bands. An example is to operatedifferent radios in the U-NII-1, U-NII-2A, U-NII-2B, U-NII-2C, U-NII-3and U-NII-4 bands to maximize the utilization of the 5 GHz unlicensedbands.

For sake of clarity, but without limitations, we will describe anarrangement for a MR-WND with two radios, where the first radio alwaysoperates in a first band and the second radio always operates in asecond band, and the first radio is always interconnected to a first MPAantenna system and the second radio is always interconnected to a secondMPA antenna system. The first approach is to design the dual linearpolarization planar antenna elements of a MPA antenna of the first MPAantenna system to have a low reflection coefficient in the firstfrequency band and a high reflection coefficient outside the first band,and to design the dual linear polarization planar antenna elements of aMPA antenna of the second MPA antenna system to have a low reflectioncoefficient in the second frequency band and a high reflectioncoefficient outside the second band.

The second approach is to integrate, for the first MPA antenna system,e.g., 3100-1, in its interface matrix between the RF chains of the firstradio and the antenna feeds of its MPA antenna, RF filters with low lossin the first frequency band and high rejection outside the first band.Similarly, for the second MPA antenna system, e.g., 3100-2, in itsinterface matrix between the RF chains of the second radio and itsantenna feeds of the second MPA antenna, RF filters with low loss in thesecond frequency band and high rejection outside the second band areintegrated.

A third approach is to take advantage of the fact that the MPA antennasystems 3100-1, 3100-2 or 3200-1, 3200-2 can easily be geometricallyseparated in the horizontal plane of the enclosure, e.g., 3182 or 3282,to add vertical dividers 3184-1 or 3284-1 between the first and secondMPA antenna systems 3100-1, 3100-2 or 3200-1, 3200-2. The dividers3184-1 or 3284-1 function is to decrease signal leakage from one MPAantenna system to the other. The dividers 3184-1 or 3284-1 may comprisemetal sheets and/or RF absorbers, for example.

Each MPA antenna system 3100-j, 3200-j is configured to output adirectional beam which intrinsically improves isolation between adjacentMPA antennas systems, e.g., 3100-1, 3100-2 or 3200-1, 3200-2. To furtherincrease this isolation, a fourth approach is to maximize the distancebetween MPA antenna systems 3100-j, 3200-j designed to operate in theclosest frequency band. That is, the distance between MPA antennasystems 3100-j, 3200-j should be monotonically decreasing as a functionof the frequency separation between the bands in which the respectivedual linear polarization planar antenna elements of MPA antennas of theMPA antenna systems 3100-j, 3200-j have low reflection coefficient.

We will now discuss the coverage flexibility, e.g., in a seating sectionof a stadium, arena, etc., offered by the proposed MR-MPA antennaarchitecture. FIG. 33 shows an MR-WND 3301 which uses the first, secondand third MPA antenna systems 3100-1, 3100-2, 3100-3 interconnected toradio one, two and three, respectively, such that each MPA antennasystem 3100-1, 3100-2, 3100-3 is a homogeneous realization of the MPAantenna system 2800 (similar radiation pattern beamwidth, gain andmaximum gain direction), except for the fact that they are designed forthe different operating bands of the radios. In this case, the coverageareas 3390-1, 3390-2, 3390-3 for the three radios in the MR-WND 3301 arecompletely overlapping, as illustrated in FIG. 33. The advantageprovided by the MR-MPA antenna system of the MR-WND 3301 is multi-fold.First, this MR-WND 3301 with MR-MPA antenna system enables multipleradios to simultaneously operate in different bands to increase theoffered capacity in a narrow directional coverage area. For example,this architecture enables multiple radios to simultaneously transmit andreceive in different bands of the 5 GHz unlicensed spectrum, therebyincreasing the available capacity delivered by a wireless network devicein this unlicensed spectrum from a long distance to a seating section ofa stadium. Another advantage is that the services offered by thedifferent radios can be different and/or could use differenttransmission technologies and protocols. Therefore, a single MR-WND 3301can be used to deliver those different services or wireless accessnetworks to a given coverage area 3390-1, 3390-2, 3390-3. Anotheradvantage is that the number of mounting locations required to offerthis extended capacity or multiple services is greatly reduced byintegrating the multiple MPA antenna systems 3100-1, 3100-2, 3100-3 in asingle enclosure 3182.

In other cases, the wireless network designer may want to increase thegain of the MPA antennas to be able to cover a given area from a fartherdistance or with a better signal quality. This has the effect ofreducing the radiation pattern beamwidth and therefore decreasing thearea covered by the MR-WND. However, the proposed MR-MPA antenna systemenables the use of heterogeneous MPA antennas. FIG. 34 shows an MR-WND3401 which uses the three MPA antenna systems 3100-1, 3100-2, 3100-3interconnected to radio one, two and three, respectively, such MPAantenna systems 3100-1, 3100-2, 3100-3 are different realizations of theMPA antenna system 2800, where each MPA antenna system 3100-1, 3100-2,3100-3 has a similar beamwidth and gain, but a different direction inelevation for maximum gain. Then, as illustrated in FIG. 34, thecapacity offered by the MR-WND 3401 is spread across a larger area. Thatis, the architecture in this case is used to extend the coverage areas3490-1, 3490-2, 3490-3 with high gain, versus the MR-WND 3301, where thecapacity in the coverage area with high gain is increased.

A novel level of flexibility can be achieved with the proposed MR-MPAantenna system when one or more of the MPA antenna systems enable thereconfiguration via the MR-MPA antenna system interface matrix of theradio coverage. For example, FIG. 35 shows an MR-WND 3501 which uses thethree MPA antenna systems 3100-1, 3100-2, 3100-3 interconnected to radioone, two and three, respectively, where each radio has four RF chains.Here, the MPA antenna systems 3100-1, 3100-2, 3100-3 are similarrealization of the Butler matrix based MPA antenna system 3000, exceptfor the fact that they are designed for the different operating bands ofthe radios. In this example, the sub interface matrix associated witheach MPA antenna system 3100-1, 3100-2, 3100-3 can be independentlyconfigured to interconnect or disconnect the RF chains with differentMPA antenna ports. It then become possible to, in one instance,configure the interface matrix such that each radio offers wirelessservices in different areas 3490-1, 3490-2, 3490-3 to extend the servicearea of the MR-WND 3401 or all radios offer wireless services in thesame coverage area 3590-1, 3590-2, 3590-3 to increase the offeringcapacity as illustrated in FIG. 35. Therefore, the same MR-WND 3501 canbe reconfigured as a function of the instantaneous requirements toeither extend the coverage area 3490-1, 3490-2, 3490-3 with high gain orincrease the capacity in the coverage area 3590-1, 3590-2, 3590-3.

In several wireless network deployments it might be advantageous to havedissimilar characteristics for the coverage area of the radios. Forexample, this can be useful to extend coverage 3490-1, 3490-2, 3490-3,as discussed in the previous two examples and illustrated in FIG. 34,but also to offer softer coverage transitions between radios within aMR-WND and between adjacent MR-WND's to optimize user load balancing androaming. In the previous examples, we assumed that all array antennas inan enclosure 3182, 3282 have similar beamwidth characteristics. Theinterface matrix could be used to independently change each radiocoverage width by disconnecting some RF chains from antenna feeds.However, an additional approach is to integrate in the enclosure 3182,3282 MPA antenna systems with different beamwidth characteristics. FIGS.36 and 37 shows an MR-WND 3601 which uses the MPA antenna systems 3200-1and 3200-2 in the MR-MPA system 3200M interconnected to radio one andtwo respectively, where each radio has four RF chains. Here, the MPAantenna systems 3200-1, 3200-2 are similar realization of the Butlermatrix based MPA antenna system 3000 except for the fact that they aredesigned for the different operating bands of the radios. The MPAantenna system 3200-3 in the MR-MPA system 3200M is interconnected toradio three, where radio three has four RF chains, is a realization ofthe MPA antenna system 2900. Because the MPA antenna systems 3200-1,3200-2, 3200-3 are oriented in different directions and have differentarchitecture, it can be realized that the coverage areas 3790-1, 3790-2,3790-3 of the different radios will be as illustrated in FIG. 37 whenthe interface matrix is configured such that MPA antenna system 3200-1and MPA antenna system 3200-2 radiate at broadside. Further, it ispossible to change the interface matrix configuration as a function ofvarious parameters such that MPA antenna system 3200-1 and MPA antennasystem 3200-2 radiate in different directions to extend the coverageareas 3690-1, 3690-2, 3690-3 achieved by the MR-WND 3601 as shown inFIG. 36.

Somebody skilled in the art can easily extend the embodiment todifferent number of radios, RF chains, multiple multi-port antennas,type of multi-port antennas, etc. In particular, the different MPAantenna systems discussed previously can be integrated in differentcombinations in this disclosed MR-MPA antenna system.

Somebody skilled in the art can appreciate that by appropriatelyselecting and designing the MPA antennas, the radios and operatingbands, the interface matrix configuration, and other components of theMR-WND, it is possible to achieve a new level of flexibility in offeringhigh throughput services in UHD environments where narrow directionalcoverage is required. One can thus appreciate the significant and uniquebenefits provided by the disclosed MR-MPA antenna system overstate-of-the-art antenna systems in wireless network devices.

One can appreciate that in combination the disclosed multi-radiomulti-segment multi-port antenna system and multi-radio multi-port arrayantenna system achieve all desired and optional features for a MR-WNDantenna system in UHD environments. The disclosed antenna systemstherefore provide great benefits over state-of-the-art systems for thedesign and operation of high capacity multi service wireless networks inUHD environments.

In general, innovative aspects of the technologies described herein canbe implemented in wireless-access points that include one or more of thefollowing aspects:

In general aspect 1, a wireless-access point comprises a first radiocomprising at least two first radio-chain circuitry each configured totransmit respective radio frequency (RF) signals in a first channel; asecond radio comprising at least two second radio-chain circuitry eachconfigured to transmit, simultaneously to transmissions of the RFsignals by the first radio, respective RF signals in a second channelwhich is non-overlapping with the first channel; and a plurality ofplanar antennas coupled with corresponding first radio-chain circuitryand second radio-chain circuitry to receive the RF signals. A firstplanar antenna is coupled with a first radio-chain circuitry of thefirst radio to receive therefrom a first RF signal in the first channel,the first planar antenna being arranged with its normal along a firstdirection, and configured to radiate the first RF signal along the firstdirection. A second planar antenna is coupled with a second radio-chaincircuitry of the first radio to receive therefrom a second RF signal inthe first channel, the second planar antenna being arranged with itsnormal along a second direction different from the first direction, andconfigured to radiate the second RF signal along the second direction.And, a third planar antenna is coupled with a third radio-chaincircuitry of the second radio to receive therefrom a third RF signal inthe second channel, the third planar antenna being arranged with itsnormal along a third direction, and configured to radiate the third RFsignal along the third direction.

Aspect 2 according to aspect 1, wherein the normal of the third planarantenna is parallel to the normal of the first planar antenna.

Aspect 3 according to aspect 1 or 2, wherein the wireless-access pointcomprises a printed circuit board (PCB), wherein both the first planarantenna and the third planar antenna are printed on the PCB.

Aspect 4 according to any one of aspects 1 to 3, wherein each of thefirst planar antenna, the second planar antenna and the third planarantenna comprises a microstrip patch antenna.

Aspect 5 according to any one of aspects 1 to 3, wherein the firstplanar antenna comprises a first dual linear polarization microstrippatch antenna having a first feed and a second feed, the first feedcoupled with the first radio-chain circuitry of the first radio toreceive therefrom the first RF signal, and the second feed coupled witha fourth radio-chain circuitry of the first radio to receive therefrom afourth RF signal, the first dual linear polarization microstrip patchantenna being configured to simultaneously radiate, along the firstdirection, the first RF signal and the fourth RF signal as a first pairof mutually orthogonally polarized beams; the second planar antennacomprises a second dual linear polarization microstrip patch antennahaving a third feed and a fourth feed, the third feed coupled with thesecond radio-chain circuitry of the first radio to receive therefrom thesecond RF signal, and the fourth feed coupled with a fifth radio-chaincircuitry of the first radio to receive therefrom a fifth RF signal, thesecond dual linear polarization micro strip patch antenna beingconfigured to simultaneously radiate, along the second direction, thesecond RF signal and the fifth RF signal as a second pair of mutuallyorthogonally polarized beams; and the third planar antenna comprises athird dual linear polarization microstrip patch antenna having a fifthfeed and a sixth feed, the fifth feed coupled with the third radio-chaincircuitry of the second radio to receive therefrom the third RF signal,and the sixth feed coupled with a sixth radio-chain circuitry of thesecond radio to receive therefrom a sixth RF signal, the third duallinear polarization microstrip patch antenna being configured tosimultaneously radiate, along the third direction, the third RF signaland the sixth RF signal as a third pair of mutually orthogonallypolarized beams.

Aspect 6 according to aspect 5, wherein the normal of the third duallinear polarization microstrip patch antenna is parallel to the normalof the first dual linear polarization microstrip patch antenna.

Aspect 7 according to aspect 6, wherein the third dual linearpolarization microstrip patch antenna is rotated relative to the firstdual linear polarization microstrip patch antenna by an acute angle,such that a polarization of one of the third pair of mutuallyorthogonally polarized beams radiated by the third antenna is tilted bythe acute angle relative to a polarization of a corresponding one of thefirst pair of mutually orthogonally polarized beams radiated by thefirst antenna.

Aspect 8 according to any one of aspects 1 to 7, wherein thewireless-access point comprises interface matrix circuitry coupledbetween the plurality of planar antennas and the at least two firstradio-chain circuitry of the first radio, and the at least two secondradio-chain circuitry of the second radio. Here, the interface matrixcircuitry is configured to selectively transmit an RF signal from anyone of the at least two first radio-chain circuitry of the first radioto none, one or multiple ones of the plurality of planar antennas, andselectively transmit, independently of the transmissions of RF signalsby the first radio, an RF signal from any one of the at least two secondradio-chain circuitry of the second radio to none, one or multiple onesof the plurality of planar antennas.

Aspect 9 according to any one of aspects 1 to 8, wherein the firstantenna has a first reflection coefficient configured such that a firstvalue of the first reflection coefficient at RF frequencies of the firstchannel is smaller by a first predetermined factor than a second valueof the first reflection coefficient at RF frequencies of the secondchannel; and the third antenna has a third reflection coefficient, suchthat a first value of the third reflection coefficient at RF frequenciesof the second channel is smaller by a second predetermined factor than asecond value of the second reflection coefficient at RF frequencies ofthe first channel.

Aspect 10 according to aspect 9, wherein each of the first predeterminedfactor and the second predetermined factor is between 2 and 10, and eachof the second value of the first reflection coefficient and the secondvalue of the second reflection coefficient is between 0.85 and 0.99.

Aspect 11 according to aspect 9, wherein the first predetermined factoris the same as the second predetermined factor.

Aspect 12 according to any one of aspects 1 to 11, wherein the firstchannel belongs to a first operating frequency band, the second channelbelongs to a second operating frequency band, and the first operatingfrequency band and second operating frequency band are in the 5 GHzunlicensed bands.

Aspect 13 according to any one of aspects 1 to 12, wherein the wirelessaccess point comprises first RF filter circuitry coupled between the twoor more first radio-chain circuitry of the first radio and the pluralityof planar antennas, wherein the first RF filter circuitry are configuredto reject RF signals at the RF frequencies of the second channel of thesecond radio; and second RF filter circuitry coupled between the two ormore second radio-chain circuitry of the second radio and the pluralityof planar antennas, wherein the second RF filter circuitry areconfigured to reject RF signals at the RF frequencies of the firstchannel of the first radio.

In general aspect 14, a wireless-access point comprises a first radiocomprising first radio-chain circuitry configured to transmit a firstradio frequency (RF) signal in a first channel; a second radiocomprising second radio-chain circuitry configured to transmit,simultaneously to transmissions of the first RF signal by the firstradio, a second RF signal in a second channel which is non-overlappingwith the first channel; a first antenna coupled to the first radio-chaincircuitry of the first radio to radiate the first RF signal, wherein thefirst antenna has a first reflection coefficient configured such that afirst value of the first reflection coefficient at RF frequencies of thefirst channel is smaller by a first predetermined factor than a secondvalue of the reflection coefficient at RF frequencies of the secondchannel; and a second antenna coupled to the second radio-chaincircuitry of the second radio to radiate the second RF signal, whereinthe second antenna has a second reflection coefficient configured suchthat a first value of the second reflection coefficient at RFfrequencies of the second channel is smaller by a second predeterminedfactor than a second value of the second reflection coefficient at RFfrequencies of the first channel.

Aspect 15 according to aspect 14, wherein the first channel belongs to afirst operating frequency band, and the second channel belongs to asecond operating frequency band that is adjacent to the first operatingfrequency band.

Aspect 16 according to aspect 14, wherein the first channel belongs to afirst operating frequency band, the second channel belongs to a secondoperating frequency band, and the first operating frequency band andsecond operating frequency band are in the 5 GHz unlicensed bands.

Aspect 17 according to any one of aspects 14 to 16, wherein the firstantenna comprises a first planar antenna formed on a first printedcircuit board (PCB), and the second antenna comprises a second planarantenna formed on a second PCB different from the first PCB.

Aspect 18 according to any one of aspects 14 to 16, wherein the firstantenna comprises a first planar antenna formed on a printed circuitboard (PCB), and the second antenna comprises a second planar antennaformed on the same PCB as the first planar antenna.

Aspect 19 according to any one of aspects 14 to 18, wherein the firstantenna comprises a first microstrip patch antenna having a first widthand a first length configured to cause the first value of the firstreflection coefficient at RF frequencies of the first channel to besmaller by the first predetermined factor than the second value of thefirst reflection coefficient at RF frequencies of the second channel,and the second antenna comprises a second microstrip patch antennahaving a second width and a second length configured to cause the firstvalue of the second reflection coefficient at RF frequencies of thesecond channel to be smaller by the second predetermined factor than thesecond value of the second reflection coefficient at RF frequencies ofthe first channel.

Aspect 20 according to aspect 19, wherein the first radio comprisesthird radio-chain circuitry configured to transmit, simultaneously totransmissions of the first RF signal by the first radio and the secondRF signal by the second radio, a third RF signal in the first channel;the second radio comprises fourth radio-chain circuitry configured totransmit, simultaneously to transmissions of the first RF signal and thethird RF signal by the first radio and the second RF signal by thesecond radio, a fourth RF signal in the second channel; the firstmicrostrip patch antenna comprises a first dual linear polarizationmicrostrip patch antenna having a first feed and a second feed, thefirst feed being coupled with the first radio-chain circuitry to receivethe first RF signal therefrom and the second feed being coupled with thethird radio-chain circuitry to receive the third RF signal therefrom,the first microstrip patch antenna configured to simultaneously radiatethe first RF signal as a first beam having a first polarization and thethird RF signal as a third beam having a third polarization orthogonalto the first polarization; and the second microstrip patch antennacomprises a second dual linear polarization microstrip patch antennahaving a third feed and a fourth feed, the third feed being coupled withthe second radio-chain circuitry to receive the second RF signaltherefrom and the fourth feed being coupled with the fourth radio-chaincircuitry to receive the fourth RF signal therefrom, the secondmicrostrip patch antenna configured to simultaneously radiate the secondRF signal as a second beam having a second polarization and the fourthRF signal as a fourth beam having a fourth polarization orthogonal tothe second polarization.

Aspect 21 according to any one of aspects 14 to 20, whereinwireless-access point comprises a plurality of instances of the firstantenna, each of the instances of the first antenna being coupled to thefirst radio-chain circuitry of the first radio; and a plurality ofinstances of the second antenna, each of the instances of the secondantenna being coupled to the second radio-chain circuitry of the secondradio.

Aspect 22 according to aspect 21, wherein the instances of the firstantenna are arranged as a first array, and the instances of the secondantenna are arranged as a second array, and at least one of the firstarray or the second array is a linear array.

Aspect 23 according to aspect 21, wherein the instances of the firstantenna are spaced apart by between 0.4 to 0.6 of a first wavelengthcorresponding to the first channel, and the instances of the secondantenna are separated by between 0.4 to 0.6 of a second wavelengthcorresponding to the second channel.

Aspect 24 according to aspect 21, wherein the wireless-access pointcomprises an enclosure arranged and configured to encompass theplurality of instances of the first antenna and the plurality ofinstances of the second antenna.

Aspect 25 according to any one of aspects 14 to 24, wherein each of thefirst predetermined factor and the second predetermined factor isbetween 2 and 10.

Aspect 26 according to aspect 25, wherein each of the firstpredetermined factor and the second predetermined factor is between 2and 3; and each of the second value of the first reflection coefficientand the second value of the second reflection coefficient is between0.85 and 0.99.

Aspect 27 according to any one of aspects 14 to 26, wherein the firstpredetermined factor is the same as the second predetermined factor.

Aspect 28 according to any one of aspects 14 to 27, wherein the wirelessaccess point comprises a first RF filter coupled between firstradio-chain circuitry of the first radio and the first antenna, whereinthe first RF filter is configured to reject RF signals at the RFfrequencies of the second channel of the second radio; and a second RFfilter coupled between second radio-chain circuitry of the second radioand the second antenna, wherein the second RF filter is configured toreject RF signals at the RF frequencies of the first channel of thefirst radio.

In general aspect 29, a wireless-access point comprises a radiocomprising at least two radio-chain circuitry each configured totransmit respective radio frequency (RF) signals; and at least twoplanar antennas coupled with corresponding radio-chain circuitry toreceive the RF signals. A first planar antenna is coupled with a firstradio-chain circuitry to receive therefrom a first RF signal, the firstplanar antenna being arranged with its normal along a first direction,and configured to radiate the first RF signal along the first direction.And, a second planar antenna is coupled with a second radio-chaincircuitry to receive therefrom a second RF signal, the second planarantenna being arranged with its normal along a second directiondifferent from the first direction, and configured to radiate the secondRF signal along the second direction.

Aspect 30 according to aspect 29, wherein the first planar antennacomprises a first microstrip patch antenna, and the second planarantenna comprises a second microstrip patch antenna.

Aspect 31 according to aspect 29 or 30, wherein the first planar antennacomprises a first dual linear polarization microstrip patch antennahaving a first feed and a second feed, the first feed coupled with thefirst radio-chain circuitry to receive therefrom the first RF signal,and the second feed coupled with a third radio-chain circuitry toreceive therefrom a third RF signal, the first dual linear polarizationmicrostrip patch antenna being configured to simultaneously radiate,along the first direction, the first RF signal and the third RF signalas a first pair of mutually orthogonally polarized beams; and the secondplanar antenna comprises a second dual linear polarization micro strippatch antenna having a third feed and a fourth feed, the third feedcoupled with the second radio-chain circuitry to receive therefrom thesecond RF signal, and the fourth feed coupled with a fourth radio-chaincircuitry to receive therefrom a fourth RF signal, the second duallinear polarization microstrip patch antenna being configured tosimultaneously radiate, along the second direction, the second RF signaland the fourth RF signal as a second pair of mutually orthogonallypolarized beams.

Aspect 32 according to aspect 31, wherein a third dual linearpolarization microstrip patch antenna has a fifth feed and a sixth feed,the fifth feed coupled with a fifth radio-chain circuitry to receivetherefrom a fifth RF signal, and the sixth feed coupled with a sixthradio-chain circuitry to receive therefrom a sixth RF signal, the thirddual linear polarization microstrip patch antenna being arranged withits normal along a third direction different from each of the firstdirection and the second direction, and configured to simultaneouslyradiate, along the third direction, the fifth RF signal and the sixth RFsignal as a third pair of mutually orthogonally polarized beams; and afourth dual linear polarization microstrip patch antenna has a seventhfeed and an eight feed, the seventh feed coupled with a seventhradio-chain circuitry to receive therefrom a seventh RF signal, and theeight feed coupled with an eight radio-chain circuitry to receivetherefrom an eight RF signal, the fourth dual linear polarizationmicrostrip patch antenna being arranged with its normal along a fourthdirection different from each of the first direction, the seconddirection and the third direction, and configured to simultaneouslyradiate, along the fourth direction, the seventh RF signal and the eightRF signal as a fourth pair of mutually orthogonally polarized beams.

Aspect 33 according to any one of aspects 29 to 32, wherein the secondRF signal is another instance of the first signal, and both the firstplanar antenna and the second planar antenna are coupled with the firstradio-chain circuitry to receive therefrom the first RF signal.

Aspect 34 according to any one of aspects 29 to 33, wherein thewireless-access point comprises interface matrix circuitry coupledbetween the at least two planar antennas and the at least tworadio-chain circuitry, the interface matrix circuitry configured toselectively transmit an RF signal from any one of the at least tworadio-chain circuitry to none, one or multiple ones of the at least twoplanar antennas.

In general aspect 35, a wireless-access point comprises a radiocomprising at least two radio-chain circuitry each configured totransmit respective radio frequency (RF) signals; a printed circuitboard (PCB); and a plurality of planar antennas printed on the PCB. Afirst set of at least two planar antennas from among the plurality ofplanar antennas is coupled with first radio-chain circuitry to receivetherefrom a first RF signal, the planar antennas of the first set beingarranged and configured to radiate, along a first direction, the firstRF signal as a first beam having a first beamwidth. And, a second set ofat least two planar antennas from among the plurality of planar antennasis coupled with second radio-chain circuitry to receive therefrom asecond RF signal, the planar antennas of the second set being arrangedand configured to radiate, along a second direction different from thefirst direction, the second RF signal as a second beam having a secondbeamwidth.

Aspect 36 according to aspect 35, wherein the first set of at least twoplanar antennas and the second set of at least two planar antennas aredisjoint sets.

Aspect 37 according to aspect 35, wherein the first set of at least twoplanar antennas and the second set of at least two planar antennas haveat least one common planar antenna.

Aspect 38 according to any one of aspects 35 to 37, wherein the firstset of at least two planar antennas and the second set of at least twoplanar antennas have different number of planar antennas.

Aspect 39 according to any one of aspects 35 to 38, wherein the firstset of at least two planar antennas and the second set of at least twoplanar antennas have the same number of planar antennas.

Aspect 40 according to any one of aspects 35 to 39, wherein the radio isconfigured to transmit RF signals in a particular channel, and the firstset of at least two planar antennas and the second set of at least twoplanar antennas are spaced apart by between 0.4 and 0.6 of a wavelengthcorresponding to the particular channel.

Aspect 41 according to any one of aspects 35 to 40, wherein theplurality of planar antennas comprises microstrip patch antennas.

Aspect 42 according to any one of aspects 35 to 40, wherein theplurality of planar antennas comprises dual linear polarizationmicrostrip patch antennas, each having a first feed and a second feed;the first feed of each of the dual linear polarization microstrip patchantennas of the first set being coupled with the first radio-chaincircuitry to receive therefrom the first RF signal, and the second feedof each of the dual linear polarization micro strip patch antennas ofthe first set being coupled with a third radio-chain circuitry toreceive therefrom a third RF signal, the first set of two or more duallinear polarization microstrip patch antennas being configured tosimultaneously radiate, along the first direction, the first RF signaland the third RF signal as a first pair of mutually orthogonallypolarized beams; and the first feed of each of the dual linearpolarization microstrip patch antennas of the second set being coupledwith the second radio-chain circuitry to receive therefrom the second RFsignal, and the second feed of each of the dual linear polarizationmicrostrip patch antennas of the second set being coupled with a fourthradio-chain circuitry to receive therefrom a fourth RF signal, thesecond set of two or more dual linear polarization microstrip patchantennas being configured to simultaneously radiate, along the seconddirection, the second RF signal and the fourth RF signal as a secondpair of mutually orthogonally polarized beams.

Aspect 43 according to any one of aspects 35 to 42, wherein thewireless-access point comprises a feeding network coupled between theplurality of planar antennas and the at least two radio-chain circuitry,the feeding network configured to selectively transmit an RF signal fromany one of the at least two radio-chain circuitry to different sets ofat least two planar antennas from among the plurality of planarantennas.

Aspect 44 according to any one of aspects 35 to 42, wherein thewireless-access point comprises a feeding network coupled between theplurality of planar antennas and the at least two radio-chain circuitry,the feeding network configured to selectively transmit an RF signal fromany one of the at least two radio-chain circuitry to a single set of atleast two planar antennas from among the plurality of planar antennas.Here, a first transmission corresponds to a first phase distribution ofthe RF signal, and a second transmission corresponds to a second phasedistribution of the RF signal.

Aspect 45 according to aspect 44, wherein the feeding network comprisesa Butler matrix.

In general aspect 46, a wireless-access point comprises a radiocomprising at least two radio-chain circuitry each configured totransmit respective radio frequency (RF) signals; horizontalpolarization coupling circuitry and vertical polarization couplingcircuitry; and a plurality of dual linear polarization microstrip patchantennas, each having a horizontal polarization feed and a verticalpolarization feed. Each of the horizontal polarization feed of a firstdual linear polarization microstrip patch antenna and the horizontalpolarization feed of a second dual linear polarization microstrip patchantenna is coupled through the horizontal polarization couplingcircuitry with first radio-chain circuitry to receive therefrom a firstRF signal, and each of the vertical polarization feed of the first duallinear polarization microstrip patch antenna and the verticalpolarization feed of the second dual linear polarization microstrippatch antenna is coupled through the vertical polarization couplingcircuitry with second radio-chain circuitry to receive therefrom asecond RF signal, the first dual linear polarization microstrip patchantenna and the second dual linear polarization microstrip patch antennabeing arranged and configured to cooperatively radiate, along a firstdirection, the first RF signal as a first horizontally polarized beam,and cooperatively radiate, along the first direction, the second RFsignal as a second vertically polarized beam. The horizontalpolarization coupling circuitry comprises a horizontal polarizationButler matrix with multiple input ports and multiple output ports; ahorizontal polarization interface matrix coupled to the at least tworadio-chain circuitry and to the input ports of the horizontalpolarization Butler matrix, the horizontal polarization interface matrixconfigured to receive from the first radio-chain circuitry the first RFsignal, and to selectively provide the first RF signal to a first inputport of the horizontal polarization Butler matrix; a first horizontalpolarization interconnection feeding network coupled to a first outputport of the horizontal polarization Butler matrix to receive the firstRF signal, and a second horizontal polarization interconnection feedingnetwork coupled to a second output port of the horizontal polarizationButler matrix to receive the first RF signal, and a first horizontalpolarization row feeding network coupled to the first horizontalpolarization interconnection feeding network to receive the first RFsignal and to the horizontal polarization feed of the first dual linearpolarization microstrip patch antenna to provide thereto the first RFsignal, and a second horizontal polarization row feeding network coupledto the second horizontal polarization interconnection feeding network toreceive the first RF signal and to the horizontal polarization feed ofthe second dual linear polarization microstrip patch antenna to providethereto the first RF signal. And the vertical polarization couplingcircuitry comprises a vertical polarization Butler matrix with multipleinput ports and multiple output ports; a vertical polarization interfacematrix coupled to the at least two radio-chain circuitry and to theinput ports of the vertical polarization Butler matrix, the verticalpolarization interface matrix configured to receive from the secondradio-chain circuitry the second RF signal, and to selectively providethe second RF signal to a first input port of the vertical polarizationButler matrix; a first vertical polarization interconnection feedingnetwork coupled to a first output port of the vertical polarizationButler matrix to receive the second RF signal, and a second verticalpolarization interconnection feeding network coupled to a second outputport of the vertical polarization Butler matrix to receive the second RFsignal; and a first vertical polarization row feeding network coupled tothe first vertical polarization interconnection feeding network toreceive the second RF signal and to the vertical polarization feed ofthe first dual linear polarization microstrip patch antenna to providethereto the second RF signal, and a second vertical polarization rowfeeding network coupled to the second vertical polarizationinterconnection feeding network to receive the second RF signal and tothe vertical polarization feed of the second dual linear polarizationmicrostrip patch antenna to provide thereto the second RF signal.

Aspect 47 according to aspect 46, wherein each of the horizontalpolarization feed of the first dual linear polarization microstrip patchantenna and the horizontal polarization feed of the second dual linearpolarization microstrip patch antenna is coupled through the horizontalpolarization coupling circuitry with third radio-chain circuitry toreceive therefrom a third RF signal, and each of the verticalpolarization feed of the first dual linear polarization microstrip patchantenna and the vertical polarization feed of the second dual linearpolarization microstrip patch antenna is coupled through the verticalpolarization coupling circuitry with fourth radio-chain circuitry toreceive therefrom a fourth RF signal, the first dual linear polarizationmicrostrip patch antenna and the second dual linear polarizationmicrostrip patch antenna being arranged and configured to cooperativelyradiate, along a second direction, the third RF signal as a thirdhorizontally polarized beam, and cooperatively radiate, along the seconddirection, the fourth RF signal as a fourth vertically polarized beam,wherein the first dual linear polarization microstrip patch antenna andthe second dual linear polarization microstrip patch antennacooperatively radiate the third beam and the fourth beam at the sametime when they cooperatively radiate the first beam and the second beam.The horizontal polarization interface matrix is configured to receivefrom the third radio-chain circuitry the third RF signal, and toselectively provide the third RF signal to a second input port of thehorizontal polarization Butler matrix; and the vertical polarizationinterface matrix is configured to receive from the fourth radio-chaincircuitry the fourth RF signal, and to selectively provide the fourth RFsignal to a second input port of the vertical polarization Butlermatrix. The first horizontal polarization interconnection feedingnetwork to receive the third RF signal from the first output port of thehorizontal polarization Butler matrix, and the second horizontalpolarization interconnection feeding network to receive the third RFsignal from the second output port of the horizontal polarization Butlermatrix; and the first vertical polarization interconnection feedingnetwork to receive the fourth RF signal from the first output port ofthe vertical polarization Butler matrix, and the second verticalpolarization interconnection feeding network to receive the fourth RFsignal from the second output port of the vertical polarization Butlermatrix. The first horizontal polarization row feeding network to receivethe third RF signal from the first horizontal polarizationinterconnection feeding network and to provide the third RF signal tothe horizontal polarization feed of the first dual linear polarizationmicrostrip patch antenna, and the second horizontal polarization rowfeeding network to receive the third RF signal from the secondhorizontal polarization interconnection feeding network and to provideit to the horizontal polarization feed of the second dual linearpolarization microstrip patch antenna; and the first verticalpolarization row feeding network to receive the fourth RF signal fromthe first vertical polarization interconnection feeding network and toprovide the fourth RF signal to the vertical polarization feed of thefirst dual linear polarization microstrip patch antenna, and the secondvertical polarization row feeding network coupled to receive the fourthRF signal from the second vertical polarization interconnection feedingnetwork and provide the fourth RF signal to the vertical polarizationfeed of the second dual linear polarization microstrip patch antenna.

Aspect 48 according to aspect 46 or 47, wherein each of the horizontalpolarization interface matrix and the vertical polarization interfacematrix comprises one or more switches configured to change inputs of thecorresponding horizontal polarization Butler matrix and verticalpolarization Butler matrix input ports to which RF signals areselectively provided.

Aspect 49 according to any one of aspects 46 to 48, wherein each of thehorizontal polarization interconnection feeding networks and verticalpolarization interconnection feeding networks comprises one or moreattenuator/gain circuitry and one or more delay circuitry to conditionthe RF signals provided to the corresponding dual linear polarizationmicrostrip patch antennas.

Aspect 50 according to any one of aspects 46 to 49, wherein each of thefirst dual linear polarization microstrip patch antenna and the seconddual linear polarization microstrip patch antenna comprises two or moreinstances of itself arranged in a row.

In general aspect 51, a wireless-access point comprises a first radiocomprising first radio-chain circuitry configured to transmit radiofrequency (RF) signals in a first channel; a second radio comprisingsecond radio-chain circuitry configured to transmit, simultaneously totransmissions of the RF signals by the first radio, respective RFsignals in a second channel which is non-overlapping with the firstchannel; and a plurality of antennas coupled with corresponding firstradio-chain circuitry and second radio-chain circuitry to receive the RFsignals. A first set of at least two antennas from among the pluralityof antennas is coupled with the first radio-chain circuitry of the firstradio to receive therefrom a first RF signal in the first channel, theantennas of the first set being arranged and configured to radiate,along a first direction, the first RF signal as a first beam having afirst beamwidth. A second set of at least two planar antennas from amongthe plurality of planar antennas is coupled with the second radio-chaincircuitry of the second radio to receive therefrom a second RF signal inthe second channel, the antennas of the first set being arranged andconfigured to radiate, along a second direction, the second RF signal asa second beam having a second beamwidth. Either (i) the second directionis different from the first direction, or (ii) the second beamwidth isdifferent from the first beamwidth, or (iii) both the second directionis different from the first direction and the second beamwidth isdifferent from the first beamwidth.

Aspect 52 according to aspect 51, wherein the plurality of antennascomprise planar antennas.

Aspect 53 according to aspect 52, wherein the planar antennas of thefirst set have normals oriented along a first direction, and the planarantennas of the second set have normals oriented along a seconddirection parallel to the first direction.

Aspect 54 according to aspect 51 or 52, wherein the planar antennas ofthe first set are printed on a first printed circuit board (PCB), andthe planar antennas of the second set have been printed on a second PCBdifferent from the first PCB.

Aspect 55 according to any one of aspects 51 to 54, wherein thewireless-access point comprises coupling circuitry connected to (i) thefirst radio-chain circuitry of the first radio to receive the first RFsignal and the second radio-chain circuitry of the second radio toreceive the second RF signal, and (ii) the plurality of antennas toprovide the first RF signal and the second RF signal to correspondingsets of the plurality. The coupling circuitry is configured to cause thewireless-access point to (i) selectively change either the firstdirection of the first beam used to radiate the first RF signal in thefirst channel to a third direction, or the first beamwidth of the firstbeam used to radiate the first RF signal in the first channel to a thirdbeamwidth; and (ii) either selectively change, independently of thechange of the first direction, the second direction of the second beamused to radiate the second RF signal in the second channel to a fourthdirection, or (iii) selectively change, independently of the change ofthe first beamwidth, the second beamwidth of the second beam used toradiate the second RF signal in the second channel to a fourthbeamwidth.

Aspect 56 according to aspect 55, wherein both the third direction andthe fourth direction are parallel.

Aspect 57 according to aspect 55, wherein both the third beamwidth andthe fourth beamwidth are equal.

Aspect 58 according to aspect 55, wherein the coupling circuitrycomprises a Butler matrix.

Aspect 59 according to any one of aspects 51 to 58, wherein the antennasare microstrip patch antennas.

Aspect 60 according to any one of aspects 51 to 59, wherein the antennasof the first set have a first reflection coefficient configured suchthat a first value of the first reflection coefficient at RF frequenciesof the first channel is smaller by a first predetermined factor than asecond value of the first reflection coefficient at RF frequencies ofthe second channel, the antennas of the second set have a secondreflection coefficient configured such that a first value of the secondreflection coefficient at RF frequencies of the second channel issmaller by a second predetermined factor than a second value of thesecond reflection coefficient at RF frequencies of the first channel.

Aspect 61 according to aspect 60, wherein each of the firstpredetermined factor and the second predetermined factor is between 2and 10; and each of the second value of the first reflection coefficientand the second value of the second reflection coefficient is between0.85 and 0.99.

Aspect 62 according to aspect 60, wherein the first predetermined factoris the same as the second predetermined factor.

Aspect 63 according to any one of aspects 51 to 62, wherein the firstchannel belongs to a first operating frequency band; and the secondchannel belongs to a second operating frequency band that is adjacent tothe first operating frequency band.

Aspect 64 according to any one of aspects 51 to 62, wherein the firstchannel belongs to a first operating frequency band; the second channelbelongs to a second operating frequency band; and the first operatingfrequency band and second operating frequency band are in the 5 GHzunlicensed bands.

Aspect 65 according to any one of aspects 51 to 64, wherein thewireless-access point comprises a third radio that comprises thirdradio-chain circuitry configured to transmit, simultaneously totransmissions of the RF signals by the first radio and the second radio,respective RF signals in a third channel which is non-overlapping witheither the first channel or the second channel. Here, a third set of atleast two planar antennas from among the plurality of planar antennas iscoupled with the third radio-chain circuitry of the third radio toreceive therefrom a third RF signal in the third channel, the antennasof the third set being arranged and configured to radiate, along a thirddirection, the third RF signal as a third beam having a secondbeamwidth.

Aspect 66 according to aspect 65, wherein the wireless-access pointcomprises an enclosure arranged and configured to encompass the firstradio, the second radio, the third radio, and the plurality of antennas.Here, a first distance between the first set of at least two antennasand the third set of at least two antennas is smaller than a seconddistance between the second set of at least two antennas and the thirdset of at least two antennas when a first frequency separation betweenthe first channel of the first radio and the third channel of the thirdradio is larger than a second frequency separation between the secondchannel of the second radio and the third channel of the third radio.

A few embodiments have been described in detail above, and variousmodifications are possible. While this specification contains manyspecifics, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope ofwhat may be claimed, but rather as descriptions of features that may bespecific to particular embodiments. Certain features that are describedin this specification in the context of separate embodiments can also beimplemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, variousfeatures that are described in the context of a single embodiment canalso be implemented in multiple embodiments separately or in anysuitable subcombination. Moreover, although features may be describedabove as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed assuch, one or more features from a claimed combination can in some casesbe excised from the combination, and the claimed combination may bedirected to a subcombination or variation of a subcombination.

Other embodiments fall within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An antenna system comprising: a plurality ofplanar antennas; a first set of at least two antennas from the pluralityof planar antennas; a second set of at least two antennas from theplurality of planar antennas; a first reconfigurable circuitry couplinga first RF signal to at least one antenna from the first set ofantennas, wherein in a first configuration of the first circuitry thefirst RF signal is coupled and radiated by at least one antenna in thefirst set of antennas to a first spatial sector, and in a secondconfiguration of the first circuitry the first RF signal is coupled andradiated by at least one antenna in the first set of antennas to asecond spatial sector different from the first spatial sector. a secondcircuitry coupling a second RF signal to at least one antenna from thesecond set of antennas, wherein the second RF signal is coupled andradiated by at least one antenna in the second set of antennas to athird spatial sector.
 2. The antenna system of claim 1 wherein thesecond circuitry is reconfigurable and in a second configuration of thesecond circuitry the second RF signal is coupled and radiated by atleast one antenna in the second set of antennas to a fourth spatialsector different from the third spatial sector.
 3. The antenna system ofclaim 1, wherein in the first configuration of the first circuitry thefirst RF signal is coupled to a first antenna in the first set ofantennas and radiated by the first antenna in the first set of antennas;and in the second configuration of the first circuitry the first RFsignal is not coupled to the first antenna in the first set of antennasand not radiated by the first antenna in the first set of antennas. 4.The antenna system of claim 1, wherein in the first configuration of thefirst circuitry the first RF signal is coupled to a first number ofantennas in the first set of antennas and in the second configuration ofthe first circuitry the first RF signal is coupled to a second number ofantennas in the first set of antennas where the first number of antennasis not equal to the second number of antennas.
 5. The antenna system ofclaim 1, wherein in the first configuration of the first circuitry thefirst RF signal is coupled with a first phase shift to a first antennain the first set of antennas; and in the second configuration of thefirst circuitry the first RF signal is coupled with a second phase shiftto the first antenna where the first phase shift and the second phaseshift are different.
 6. The antenna system of claim 1, where the firstcircuitry comprises a RF switch.
 7. The antenna system of claim 1, wherethe first circuitry comprises a Butler matrix.
 8. The antenna system ofclaim 1, where the first circuitry comprises a bandpass RF filter. 9.The antenna system of claim 1, where the first spatial sector and thethird spatial sector have substantially the same spatial coverage. 10.The antenna system of claim 1, where the first spatial sector and thethird spatial sector have substantially different spatial coverage. 11.The antenna system of claim 1, where the first spatial sector and thesecond spatial sector have different angular coverage.
 12. The antennasystem of claim 1, where the direction along which the first RF signalis radiated with maximum power for the first spatial sector is differentfrom the direction along which the first RF signal is radiated withmaximum power for the second spatial section.
 13. The antenna system ofclaim 1 where the first RF signal occupies a first RF channel, and thesecond RF signal occupies a second RF channel, and the first RF channeland the second RF channel overlap.
 14. The antenna system of claim 1where the first RF signal occupies a first RF channel, and the second RFsignal occupies a second RF channel, and the first RF channel and thesecond RF channel are isolated.
 15. The antenna system of claim 1 wherethe plurality of planar antennas have surface normals that are parallel.16. The antenna system of claim 1 where the plurality of planar antennasin the first set of antennas have normals that are parallel along afirst direction and the plurality of planar antennas in the second setof antennas have normals that are parallel along a second direction, andthe first direction is different from the second direction.
 17. Theantenna system of claim 1 where a first antenna in the first set ofantennas has a normal along a first direction and a second antenna inthe first set of antennas has a normal along a second direction and thefirst direction and the second direction are different.
 18. The antennasystem of claim 1 where a first antenna in the first set of antennas anda second antenna in the second set of antennas have normal that areparallel along a first direction and a third antenna in the first set ofantennas and a fourth antenna in the second set of antennas have normalthat are parallel along a second direction and the first direction andthe second direction are different.
 19. The antenna system of claim 1where the plurality of antennas and the first circuitry and the secondcircuitry are enclosed within a single enclosure.
 20. The antenna systemof claim 1 where at least one antenna in the first set of antennas iscommon to the second set of antennas.
 21. The antenna system of claim 1where at least one antenna is a dual polarization antenna and belongs tothe first and second set of antennas and is coupled to the first andsecond RF signals and radiates the first RF signal along a firstpolarization and radiates the second RF signal along a secondpolarization orthogonal to the first polarization.
 22. A wireless accesspoint comprising: a first radio assignable to a plurality of wirelesssectors providing, during operation of the wireless access point, atleast one radio frequency (RF) communication signal in a first channel;a second radio providing, during operation of the wireless access point,at least one radio frequency (RF) communication signal in a secondchannel where the first and second channel are isolated; a plurality ofplanar antennas; a first set of at least two antennas from the pluralityof planar antennas; a second set of at least two antennas from theplurality of planar antennas; a first reconfigurable circuitry couplinga first RF signal from the first radio to at least one antenna from thefirst set of antennas; a second circuitry coupling a first RF signalfrom the second radio to at least one antenna from the second set ofantennas wherein the second circuitry and the at least one antenna fromthe second set of antennas coupled to the first RF signal from thesecond radio are configured and arranged to radiate the first RF signalfrom the second radio to a third spatial sector; a non-transitorycomputer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, whenexecuted by the one or more processors, cause a processor bank toperform operations further comprising: (i) Configuring the firstcircuitry to couple the first RF signal from the first radio to at leastone antenna in the first set of antennas wherein the first circuitry andthe at least one antenna in the first set of antennas coupled to thefirst RF signal from the first radio are configured and arranged toradiate the first RF signal from the first radio to a first spatialsector of the plurality of sectors; and (ii) Dynamically reconfiguringthe first circuitry to couple the first RF signal from the first radioto at least one antenna in the first set of antennas in response toreceiving and transmitting information from a network for dedicating andrededicating assignment of the first radio to specific spatial sectorsand wherein the first circuitry and the at least one antenna in thefirst set of antennas coupled to the first RF signal from the firstradio are configured and arranged to radiate the first RF signal fromthe first radio to a second spatial sector of the plurality of sectorsdifferent from the first spatial sector
 23. The wireless access point ofclaim 22 further comprising: a third reconfigurable circuitry coupling asecond RF signal from the first radio to at least one antenna from thefirst set of antennas; a fourth circuitry coupling a second RF signalfrom the second radio to at least one antenna from the second set ofantennas wherein the second circuitry and the at least one antenna fromthe second set of antennas coupled to the first RF signal from thesecond radio are configured and arranged to radiate the first RF signalfrom the second radio to the third spatial sector; instructions storedin the non-transitory computer-readable storage medium that, whenexecuted by the one or more processors, cause a processor bank toperform operations further comprising: (i) Configuring the thirdcircuitry to couple the second RF signal from the first radio to atleast one antenna in the first set of antennas wherein the thirdcircuitry and the at least one antenna in the first set of antennascoupled to the second RF signal from the first radio are configured andarranged to radiate the second RF signal from the first radio to thefirst spatial sector of the plurality of sectors; (ii) Dynamicallyreconfiguring the third circuitry to couple the second RF signal fromthe first radio to at least one antenna in the first set of antennas inresponse to receiving and transmitting information from a network fordedicating and rededicating assignment of the first radio to specificspatial sectors and wherein the third circuitry and the at least oneantenna in the first set of antennas coupled to the second RF signalfrom the first radio are configured and arranged to radiate the secondRF signal from the first radio to the second spatial sector of theplurality of sectors;